Gut health & Buttermilk

Fresh buttermilk is known as takra in Ayurveda. It has immense benefits in
kindling digestion and is recommended to be taken daily for people with poor
digestion, weakness, fatigue, and hemorrhoids. Buttermilk is the thin watery
fluid left over after the extraction of butter from curd. It’s low in fat content,
slightly sour, and astringent in taste. These properties help in reducing vata and
Kapha dosa in the body.

Having buttermilk with lunch has been an integral part of our tradition as it
improves taste and appetite. Ground curry leaves, ginger, green chili, and salt
are mixed with buttermilk to make the traditional Kerala delicacy ‘sambaram’.
This is very effective in cooling your body in the summer months while
maintaining the electrolyte balance.

In Astanga hrydaya it is mentioned to be effective in duodenal diseases,
bloating, and anemia. Also, helps in reducing dysuria.

Improper dietary habits can lead to indigestion with bloating, loss of taste,
appetite, constipation, or loose stools, and fatigue. If left untreated for a long
time this can lead to diseases of your intestine called Grahani roga. Its
symptoms are stasis of undigested food in the stomach with delayed hunger,
difficulty in breathing, tiredness, and swelling of hands and feet.

In the treatment of Grahani, buttermilk is well-suited because of its proper
of kindling the digestive fire-Agni, lightness, reducing vata and Kapha dosa
while maintaining the pitta dosa. It is hot in potency and helps dilate the
channels of the body.