10 Amazing Reasons To Drink More Buttermilk This Summer
Undoubtedly considered as the best summer soother, buttermilk or chaanch or chaas, is a wonder drink that goes beyond quenching your thirst and refreshing you. Being a by-product of the process of churning cream into butter, most of the beneficial properties associated with milk are retained in buttermilk too. This just adds to the numerous reasons to have buttermilk in your daily diet!
Here, we give you a list of some wonderful health and beauty benefits of this delicious drink. But are you one of those who are not too fond of the sour taste and smell of buttermilk? Then luckily for you, some of its benefits can be reaped on its external application as well! So, whether you love the taste or don't, this one is for you.
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#1. Effective skin lightening agent
Buttermilk contains large amounts of lactic acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA), which is part of several expensive beauty products and treatments. This lactic acid helps to soften and brighten skin, acting as a natural solution to dark spots and tanned patches on skin. Grind dry orange peel and combine it with buttermilk to make a paste. Massage this paste very gently on your skin. Let it stay for 30 minutes, and then wash it off with cold water. You will notice visible changes in your skin within a month.
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#2. Effective treatment for sunburn
Buttermilk acts as a natural lotion that helps soothe sunburn. Simply mix buttermilk with tomato juice, and apply this mixture on the affected area. The vitamin A and C in this mixture will help heal skin better. After rinsing this mix off, you will feel much cooler and considerably relieved of the painful burn sting.
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#3. Anti-ageing benefits
Buttermilk mixed with honey works as a great anti-ageing solution. The AHA, lactic acid, is what many anti-ageing lotions use. Honey acts as a natural cleanser while buttermilk moisturises, lightens and exfoliates the skin. Once the preliminary work is done by honey, buttermilk comes into play and restores the glow and rectifies the imperfections of the skin. If you have oily skin, you can add a tablespoon of lemon juice to this mask.
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#4. The ‘Cleopatra buttermilk bath’
Legend has it that the secret to the vibrant glow of Cleopatra’s radiating beauty lied in her routine buttermilk bath. You too can get the same benefits! Just add a cup of buttermilk and oats mixture to your bathtub, and soak in it for 15-20 minutes to get baby-soft skin.
#5. For great hair
Having extremely dry, brittle, badly damaged hair in the hot summers is very common; especially, if you have been washing your hair a lot to get some relief from the heat. A buttermilk mask can act as a deep conditioner to soften your hair, no matter how damaged it is. Simply mix a banana and 2 tablespoons of honey in a cup of buttermilk. Apply this mixture as a mask on your scalp and hair, and leave it undisturbed for 45 minutes before washing it off. You will be left with unbelievably soft and shiny hair!
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#6. Keeps weight under control
Buttermilk is lower in fat and calories compared to milk. Apart from that, it can make you feel full for a long period of time, making you feel less hungry, thus aiding in weight loss. Since it helps in healthy digestion and also regulates bowel movements, it further promotes weight loss. Buttermilk is very easy to digest and helps absorb nutrients from other foods too, making it one of the best choices for low-fat diets.
#7. Keeps body heat under check
This has been one of the favourite reasons to drink buttermilk for ages. Buttermilk helps cool down your body temperatures, and can be used as a natural refresher in summers. This is also useful for pre- and post-menopausal women, as it provides temporary relief from the hot flushes.
#8. Best for your digestive system
Buttermilk is a natural probiotic, which means that it provides the “gut friendly” bacteria that aid in digestion. It also helps to reduce frequent heartburn, and regulates the acidity that usually follows a spicy meal.
#9. Boosts immunity
The wonderful lactic acid in buttermilk also fights off harmful pathogens and bacteria that enter the body through various external agents. The probiotic properties also help to arm the digestive system and also strengthens your immune system, thus help you fight against common colds, infections, etc.
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#10. Packed with nutrients
Buttermilk is low in calories, but high in several essential nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. These nutrients work together to promote healthy bones, skin and immunity. So, a tall glass of buttermilk everyday can take care of many of your nutritional needs. Although it cannot replace a meal, it is one of the healthiest options to have between meals in case you get those hunger pangs, when on a diet.
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With 10 wonderful beauty and health benefits, we are sure you have enough reasons to grab a glass of buttermilk right away!
