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Keep yourself hydrated inside and out with these Ayurvedic herbs and recipes

Dehydration is a common concern during summer, which is why it is important to keep yourself hydrated. Take the help of Ayurveda and you’ll feel both healthy and refreshed!
Trust Ayurveda to keep you hydrated this summer. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Dr Arati Soman Published: 10 Mar 2021, 16:18 pm IST
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Dehydrated skin or rough skin is caused when the water content in the body is reduced. Lack of enough water in the body can affect your skin and makes the skin itchy, dry and also dull-looking. Dry skin reveals fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone, making skin more vulnerable to various allergies and infections. 

The most common cause of your skin getting dehydrated is water loss due to excessive sweating or perspiration. This is mostly seen during the summer season, when the scorching heat causes dryness in the atmosphere. So, it is very important to look after your skin and keep it moisturised during this change in the weather.

Ayurveda texts contain special chapters explaining the importance of following various daily routines, according to changing seasons.Here are some of the herbs that would help to keep your skin hydrated and moisturised inside out.

Keep your skin hydrated naturally. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
1. Aloe vera

Aloe vera is known by the name kumari, which suggests that the herb is useful to keep your skin young and glowing. Aloe gel has 95 percent water, thereby helping to keep skin soft and moisturised. Using products with aloe gel is the easiest way to use this in your daily skin care regimen. You can peel the aloe leaf to extract the gel and use it as a moisturising and cooling agent before bathing. Ensure you wash it off properly, as it can become really sticky when it starts drying out.

2. Orange

Orange being a citrus fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C. It also hydrates our body during the summer season and cools it down. Everyone knows the benefits of orange, but lesser-known properties for beautiful skin exist in the peel of oranges. The peel actually contains more vitamin C than the pulp itself. You can dry and grind the peel to make an excellent scrub or make a face pack powder to apply a mask with milk or water.

3. Watermelon

Ninety per cent of watermelon weight is water! It is a rich combination of vitamins A, C, potassium, magnesium as well as B1, B5, B6. This will keep your electrolyte count up, control free radical damage to your skin, reduce oxidative stress and keep you hydrated, helping your skin retain moisture.

The juicy goodness shall keep your hydration levels high. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

Chill the rind that you get after cutting watermelon. Keep it in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Slice the rind in very thick wafers, then use a peeler to remove thin wafers and put it on the face until the cooling sensation stops. Wash your face with lukewarm water after, and dry thoroughly for amazing glowing skin.

After taking care of skin hydration and nourishment, here are some wonderful recipes where you can use different products to make delicious treats that can help cool you down.

1. Spicy orange and mint

Take the juice of two oranges, a few mint leaves and a cup of water. Add salt/sugar to taste. Blend it together to make a wonderful cooling drink that hydrates as well as cools you down from the inside. It is rich in nutrients, cooling agents and you can add a piece of green chilli to make it spicy.

2. Watermelon mint drink

Take a bowl full of watermelon, and a few mint leaves and blend them together with a glass of water. Adjust the taste with salt and sugar, if needed.

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3. Masala buttermilk

Yoghurt drinks also work really well in cooling the body down and the natural probiotics in these products do wonders for your digestive tract. Mix yoghurt in water and blend fast to create froth. Add a pinch of shredded ginger, coriander leaf, mint leaf and cumin, and stir. You can store this in the fridge during summer to avoid fermentation.

Pudina chaas is all you need this summer. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
4. Coconut water

This is another thirst quencher, which is also very healthy for your body, skin and overall hydration. A combination of watermelon coconut water, or pineapple juice and coconut water tastes amazing, and is a wonderful way to stay hydrated in summer.

You may notice none of the recipes suggest using ice. That is because, in Ayurveda, there is a concept of agni, which is your metabolic fire. When you drink something too cold, your body has to work hard to bring the cold food back to its own internal temperature, before it can start processing it and breaking it down.
Use seasonal fruits and vegetables to make smoothies, juices and other thirst quenchers to make your summer dehydration-free, and your skin looking glowing and wonderful.

Dr Arati Soman

Dr. Arati Soman is the Ayurvedic Expert at Nisarga Biotech Pvt Ltd. With a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and a Professional Diploma in Clinical Research. Dr. Arati Soman aims to do clinical research of Ayurvedic theories and give treatment to prove efficacy of the methods. ...Read More

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