Summers in India are a tragic and unbearable event. The long, hot days seem never-ending, and the sweltry summers make stepping out of air-conditioned rooms hard. This season also affects our diets since consuming even a single meal feels like a Herculean task. But what if I told you that there is an ingredient that can single-handedly make your summer blues disappear? From cooling down the body and helping in weight loss to getting glowing skin and boosting immunity — this ingredient is an all-rounder. So, run to your nearest grocery store, get some gond katira and watch it change your life. Here are the benefits of gond katira and how to use it in summer.

What is gond katira?

Gond katira is a crystalline herb acquired from the sap of the Locoweed plant, or Gond plant. Another name for this herb is Tragacanth gum, and it is known for its cooling properties. It is a white, transparent, or pale yellow-coloured solid crystal that becomes jelly-like once soaked in water. It is tasteless and odourless. Besides its cooling properties, gond katira has also been used in Ayurvedic medication to treat conditions like cough, dysentery and digestive issues.

The best part about this herb is that it is easily available at grocery stores, is easy to consume and has multiple health benefits. You can use it as an ingredient in cold beverages, have it with warm milk, make a paste and apply it on wounds, use it as a thickening agent for dishes, or consume it with water. So, don’t sit out on this star ingredient and learn how it benefits you.

Benefits of gond katira

Now that you know of the properties of this cool ingredient, it’s time to learn about its insane benefits. For ages, it has been used in Indian households for numerous things including cooking, making beverages, as a medicine and more. So, here are some benefits of gond katira that make it a go-to ingredient.

1. Cools down the body

Heat strokes, nose bleeds, fatigue, and dehydration are quite common during summer. Just consuming two litres of water might not beat the heat. Instead, consuming cool beverages with gond katira can help bring down your body temperature and control heat strokes. It also helps with dehydration caused by excessive exposure to heat. So, next time, skip the Coke and make a gond katira shikanji instead for instant relief.

2. Gives you healthy and glowing skin

When I say gond katira is a star ingredient, I mean it. We all know the summer season can take a toll on our skin, and no matter how many products you layer up, you can still end up with dull and dehydrated skin. So, instead of spending a bomb on trying new skincare products, soak gond katira overnight, make it into a paste with ingredients that target your skin concern and voila! You have your DIY mask that will give you healthy, hydrated, and glowing skin. You can also consume it with water to get its glowing skin benefits.

3. Helps in weight loss

One of the major benefits of gond katira is that it helps in weight loss. It provides intense energy and makes you feel fuller for longer. It is also a great pre-meal before hitting the gym, as it will give you a burst of energy. Gond katira is fibre-rich, boosts metabolism, and helps burn excessive calories.

4. Improves gut health

Your gut can make or break your health. That’s why paying attention to your gut health is a must. The enzymes present in this herb improve gut health and help with the process of digestion. It helps in bowel movement and relieves gut issues like constipation and diarrhoea. So, start consuming it and make your gut healthy and happy.

5. Detoxifies the liver

Summer is the perfect time to sip on some Margaritas, Aperol Spritzes, G&Ts and other refreshing cocktails and mocktails. But have you ever paid attention to how these affect your liver? Well, if you don’t want to spoil your summer fun and also have a healthy and functioning liver, start consuming gond katira. It helps in detoxifying the blood and improves liver health. So, balance out your sip-sip hooray by sipping on some gond katira beverages every now and then.

6. Helps gain strength post-pregnancy

Gond katira is a helpful herb for pregnant women, and for ages, gond ke ladoo has been given to women post-pregnancy to help them gain strength after delivery. It also helps improve blood flow, restores bone strength, and is great for lactation.

How to use this ingredient?

There are various ways to use this ingredient and benefit from it. Here are some easy and quick ways to add it to your diet and enjoy it during the summer.

1. Summer beverages

The easiest way to use gond katira is to add it to your summer beverages. It is a great addition to your lemonades, shikanjis, aam panna, and much more. All you have to do is soak it in water overnight, and once it turns into jelly, you can mix it with your choice of beverage.

2. Desserts

Summers and desserts go hand in hand. From rabris, kulfis, faloodas, custards, fruit truffles, and chocolate mousses to more, you can add this versatile ingredient to any dessert and enjoy its cooling properties. Just soak it overnight and run it in a blender, depending on what you are making!

3. Smoothies and shakes

Fruit smoothies and shakes are some of the most refreshing beverages to help you cool down in summer. There’s nothing like an iced latte to bring the temperature down. Or a boba tea if that’s what you enjoy. So, next time you’re DIYing something, add some soaked gond katira to bring a nice texture to your drinks.

4. Skincare and healing wounds

This magic ingredient has some significant medicinal properties and it can also help you achieve the dewy skin of your dreams. All you have to do is soak it overnight, make a paste, and use it to treat wounds or make DIY masks to restore your skin’s health.

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