Poonam Joshi in Indian Foods

How Many Calories Are There in Lassi & Does It Have Any Health Benefits?

Lassi, a traditional Indian recipe is also known as Indian yogurt drink or savory drink. It is a blend of yogurt, water, spices, and fruits. Salted lassi contains spices while sweet lassi has sugar or fruits, instead of spices. Lassi is a churned out yogurt which is made by fermenting the milk and adding a culture of bacteria (Streptococcus lactis or Lactobacillus bulgaricus). The yogurt culture is introduced to lukewarm milk and it is kept aside for 7 – 8 hours. The yogurt is then churned with a blender to make Lassi.

Lassi is a sweet or salty concoction which is spiced with Cumin and topped with cream or butter. Lassi is rich in probiotics, which strengthens the immune system by rejuvenating natural bacterial flora in the intestine. It also promotes digestion. Lassi is a natural source of calcium, carbohydrates, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, zinc, and proteins. Lassi helps to get rid of acidity by coating the stomach lining, which prevents acids from moving towards the oesophagus, thereby reducing heartburn. Lassi is good for soothing ulcers. If you want to lose weight, you can substitute your lunch with a couple of glasses of Lassi. It is a perfect drink for people suffering from Lactose intolerance since lactose is converted to galactose and glucose by bacterial action. The spices present in Lassi improve appetite and keeps your brain healthy. Add mint leaves, coriander, and cumin to Lassi which will keep you cool during summer. Lassi gives maximum benefit when consumed during afternoon.