5 minutes in the sun and you are drenched, the shirt is sticking to you, the sun is burning down on you and your body is drained of all energy. This is an everyday occurrence for us living in the Indian summer. In this prolonged period of extreme heat all we want is something to cool us by and to our rescue comes butter milk or chaas as it is popularly known. Be the Amul chaas that we get outside or the homemade mattha variety, buttermilk is the right drink for the season. If you were not a big fan of buttermilk till now, we give you reasons to give buttermilk another chance and if you already love it then have it more…
Why is Buttermilk good for you?
Buttermilk which is made by separating butter from the yogurt and then churning it and adding some water to it is an easy drink to prepare and not at all heavy on the pocket. Here are some of its other benefits-
Rich source of Calcium – Since buttermilk is made from milk, it is a good source of calcium. Unlike in whole milk where you get plenty of calories from the fat, the calcium in buttermilk comes without the fat content. In 100 grams of buttermilk you get 35% of your requirement of calcium in a day.
B Complex- Butter milk is a rich source of B complex especially riboflavin which is needed by the body for conversion of food into energy, for secretions of hormones for proper digestion and for healthy hair and skin. Hence drinking buttermilk is essential for overall health.
Other nutrients- Along with calcium and B complex, butter milk is also a good source of Protein, Potassium, phosphorous.
Probiotics- Probiotics or the good microbes are well known today. Buttermilk is a natural source for probiotics due to the bacteria that is present in curd. These bacteria when ingested live in our intestines and in turn help us in absorbing vitamins, breaking down sugars, fighting bad bacteria and improving digestion.
Good for Lactose intolerant- Lactose intolerance is a condition in which body cannot digest lactose, a sugar found in milk, thus those who suffer from lactose intolerance are deprived of the calcium and protein found in milk and milk product. However since during formation of curd, the microorganism convert lactose into lactic acid hence it can be easily consumed by lactose intolerant. Thus to those who are lactose intolerant, buttermilk can still give them the nutrients of milk in a better form.
Weight loss- Though named as buttermilk, buttermilk is low in fat precisely because is prepared by removing the butter or fat part of the milk. Half cup of Butter milk contains 99 calories with 2.2 grams of fat while half cup of milk contains 157 calories with 8.9 grams of fat.
Aids digestion- Buttermilk is easier to digest than milk as sugar is already converted into lactic acid, hence those with digestive problems are advised to include buttermilk in their diet. Moreover the probiotics in buttermilk aids the overall digestion.
Cooling Effect- Buttermilk is believed to have a cooling effect on the body and hence is consumed in large quantities in summer.
