Sunday 5 July 2009

Lassi a cool Ayurvedic health drink

Lassi is an Ayurvedic yoghurt drink, which not only tastes wonderful but also helps regulate the digestion and balances all the three doshas.Yogurt and lassi are not considered the same thing in Ayurveda. Lassi is best taken after lunch or late afternoon rather than evening. Lassi is light and contains lactobacilli, which are necessary bacteria that lubricate the intestines to help digestion go smoothly. It also helps to reduce wind and bloating. It's a tasty drink and makes your meal delicious, nutritious and more satisfying. 
Some of you have asked why is Lassi ok to drink for pitta types and yoghurt not. Well it's all down to simple chemistry. The way we prepare and combine food with other ingredients changes the qualities of the food. Yoghurt appears to be cool and light, but it's heavy and oily and quite hard to digest, and because it is fermented and sour it increases pitta (heat). It's final effect on the digestive tract is heating or vipaka, so it should be avoided by individuals with aggravated or excess pitta or those suffering from colitis, or other inflammatory bowel conditions. By adding water and whisking air into the yoghurt changes the qualities, increasing vata,(airy and light qualities), and reduces the pitta (hot) and kapha (heavy) qualities. This makes the the drink easier to digest and the final heating effect on digestion is reduced
Recipes for Lassi

Sweet Lassi
1/4 cup fresh homemade yogurt 
1 cup room temperature water and 
Sugar to taste
Few drops of Rosewater and 1-3 crushed cardamon pods. (optional)

Blend it for one minute in the blender and drink fresh, don't add ice.

Salty Lassi

1 cup room temperature water
1/4 cup fresh homemade yogurt 
1 pinch ground ginger (optional) 
1 pinch ground cumin
1 pinch ground coriander 
1 pinch salt 
Blend for one minute.

Drink after lunch. It helps trapped wind and bloating.


2 comments:

  1. Lassi has been touted as the best drink especially in summers in Indian conditions. It not only replenishes the body with essential nutrients it also adds to the freshness and agility of the body.

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  2. I am a pitta /kapha and in balance . What is the best lassi for my dosha?
    Thank you.

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