7 Must-Have Fermented Foods to Maintain a Healthy Gut in Summer
The summer season often leads to dehydration and an excessive nutrient loss and may trigger digestive issues, which eventually take a toll on gut health. While dehydration leads to loss of appetite, there are certain foods that can naturally improve
gut health
by inducing healthy
probiotics
that not only help in improving the gut environment but also help in calming the body heat by nurturing the gut flora.
Curd
Curd is a summer staple in most Indian homes. Rich in probiotics like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria, it helps cool the body, ease digestion, and strengthen the gut. Opt for homemade or fresh plain curd without added sugar for maximum benefits. A simple bowl of curd rice, chaas, or a fruit yogurt parfait can be refreshing and nourishing.
Buttermilk
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
Light, hydrating, and packed with beneficial bacteria, chaas, also known as buttermilk, is a perfect drink for summers. It cools the system, aids digestion, and replenishes electrolytes lost due to sweating. Adding a pinch of roasted cumin powder and rock salt not only enhances taste but also boosts its digestive properties.
Poll
Do you believe that fermented foods can improve digestion?
Maybe, I'm not sure.
Absolutely!
Kanji
Another desi way to fix gut health is by adding kanji to the daily diet. This traditional drink hails from North India and is made by fermenting a drink made from black carrots, mustard seeds, and water. It is naturally probiotic and helps improve gut flora. Slightly tangy and spicy, kanji is perfect for detoxifying the system and keeping the body energized during hot days.
Pickled Vegetables
Summer is the ideal season for making and enjoying homemade pickles. Fermented pickles, especially the traditional ones made without vinegar (like lemon, mango, or green chili achar), are rich in probiotics. Just a small portion on the side of your meal can enhance your digestion and add a flavorful punch.
Kombucha
Kombucha, a fizzy, fermented tea, is rapidly gaining popularity for its gut-healing benefits. It's light, slightly tart, and full of probiotics, antioxidants, and enzymes. A chilled glass of kombucha can be a refreshing alternative to sugary sodas during summer, keeping your gut bacteria happy and balanced.
Idli and Dosa Batter
Traditional South Indian foods like idli and dosa are made from naturally fermented rice and urad dal batter. These common foods are made by the fermentation process, which makes the nutrients more bioavailable and supports a
healthy gut
. In fact, eating fresh, homemade idlis or dosas is a gentle, comforting way to introduce probiotics into the diet during summers.
Sauerkraut and Kimchi
Both sauerkraut (fermented cabbage) and kimchi (spicy fermented vegetables) are excellent additions to your summer meals. Rich in fiber and probiotics, they can be easily added into salads or wraps or eaten as a side to spice up a plain meal and support digestive health.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Zero Type 1 diabetes cases by 2047 a revolutionary dream from Nagpur: CM
Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday lauded an ambitious goal envisioned by experts in gestational diabetes: ensuring zero new cases of type 1 diabetes in India by 2047, the centenary of India's independence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Calling it a "revolutionary dream from Nagpur", Fadnavis said, "The goal set by diabetes experts to prevent new cases of Type 1 diabetes by 2047 is a bold and visionary one. Remarkably, this idea took root right here in Nagpur." Fadnavis was speaking while inaugurating the 12th edition of the Hello Diabetes Academia (HDA). The concept was explained by Dr Sunil Gupta, the organising chairman of the conference and a former national president of the Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India (DIPSI). "If a woman maintains normal sugar levels before and during pregnancy, the risk of type 1 diabetes in the child can be significantly reduced. DIPSI is conducting awareness programmes in multiple Indian languages to educate women about the importance of sugar control even before conception. " He further said, "Our vision is to ensure that by the year 2047, India sees no new cases of type 1 diabetes, thanks to proactive maternal health education." Among the guests present at the event were Dr Rati Makkar, Padma Shri Dr Shashank Joshi, Padma Shri Dr Kamalakar Tripathi, Dr AK Das, Dr Banshi Saboo, Dr Vinky Rughwani and Dr Kavita Gupta, along with a host of national and international diabetes specialists and academicians. Speaking about the larger health crisis posed by diabetes and obesity, Fadnavis said, "Rapid urbanisation and the resulting unhealthy food habits are causing lifestyle diseases to emerge at younger ages. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Such conferences play a vital role in creating awareness and empowering people to adopt healthier lifestyles." The CM highlighted the efforts of the 'Fit India Movement' launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Public awareness is the most powerful remedy against lifestyle diseases," he said. Fadnavis also appreciated the consistent efforts of Dr Sunil Gupta, saying, "He organised countless programmes across India, published research, and built platforms for awareness." The HDA 2025 conference features over 150 sessions, workshops and presentations on diabetes prevention, treatment strategies, endocrinology and lifestyle management. # DIPSI's road map - Promoting sugar control even before conception through pre-pregnancy counselling - Screening all pregnant women early for gestational diabetes using a simple single-test method - Educating mothers in all Indian languages about maintaining normal glucose levels during pregnancy - Organising awareness camps and workshops across rural and urban India - Preventing intergenerational transmission by targeting maternal blood sugar control
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
In Punjab, Moga village leads anti-drug campaign with cash incentives, healthy lifestyle initiatives
1 2 Bathinda: In a parallel effort to the campaign against the drug abuse by the Punjab govt – Yudh Nashia Virudh, Ransih Kalan village in Moga district has been running its own anti-drug crusade for nearly two months, titled 'Nasha Mukti da Abhiyan, Ransih Kalan Banu Punjab di Shan'. The aim is to sensitise all 452 families in the village, steering them away from any kind of intoxicants, ensuring no family member is involved with drugs. To achieve this, the village panchayat has introduced cash incentives and maintains vigilance to prevent the sale of intoxicants. The initiative is the brainchild of 34-year-old village sarpanch Preetinder Pal Singh, commonly known as Mintu Sarpanch. The panchayat announced a one-time cash incentive of Rs 11,000 for families that become drug-free and Rs 1,100 incentive as a healthy diet allowance for those overcoming addiction, in addition to providing free de-addiction treatment facilities. Nearly 29 families declared themselves drug-free and received cash incentives, with 13 making the declaration on Saturday. Additionally, 23 individuals are undergoing treatment. The 281 families from the village have been free from any kind of drugs or liquor for a long time. "We have ensured that no liquor vend is opened in the current financial year from April onwards. Chemists have been strictly instructed not to sell any kind of prohibited medicines, and general stores have been instructed not to sell cigarettes, tobacco, or energy drinks," Preetinder Pal told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Campana (ver precio) Verisure Undo He mentioned that 16 families in the village became drug-free in May, and 13 more had come forward now, receiving cash incentives from Moga deputy commissioner Sagar Seta and Nihal Singh Wala SDM Swati Tiwana. "With the efforts of the village panchayat, we are optimistic that the entire village will be drug-free soon," said village resident Kuldeep Singh. Previously, many other initiatives were undertaken in the village, including setting up a water treatment plant, moving towards becoming a plastic-free village by offering various incentives for waste plastic, providing cash incentives to farmers for not burning crop residue, and promoting Punjab's culture by opening a library. MSID:: 121693498 413 |
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Violence against doctors: Punjab finally moves to secure govt hospitals
1 2 Chandigarh: After prolonged inaction and mounting pressure from the medical fraternity, Punjab govt has finally begun implementing long-promised security measures to protect healthcare workers. The decision comes in the wake of a disturbing surge in violence against doctors and medical staff at govt hospitals — a crisis that eroded morale and endangered lives on the frontlines of public healthcare. Despite repeated assurances over the past year, frontline medical professionals continued to face physical assaults and verbal abuse, particularly during night shifts, in govt-run hospitals. The combination of insufficient security, staffing shortages, and rising patient aggression left doctors and paramedics operating in a climate of fear. According to data compiled by the Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA), over 50 cases of violence against doctors were reported from govt hospitals across Punjab in the past year. Amritsar emerged as the worst-hit district with six such incidents, followed by Hoshiarpur and Pathankot (five each), Moga (four), and Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Muktsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala (three each). Several other districts, including Mohali, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Bathinda and Barnala, also reported multiple cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pessoas com dores no joelho devem fazer isto à noite Saude News Saiba Mais Undo PCMSA, which persistently advocated for urgent intervention, pushed the govt to act. Following its sustained campaign, including a strike last year, the govt committed to deploying round-the-clock security personnel at all hospitals handling medicolegal cases by Sept 9, 2024. However, the deadline lapsed without implementation. Under renewed pressure, the health department has now directed all civil surgeons to furnish detailed reports by Jun 9 on incidents of violence from the past two years, as well as corresponding police actions taken. The move is part of groundwork to operationalise the Punjab Protection of Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008, which provides a legal framework to safeguard healthcare workers against assaults and vandalism. A govt proposal to deploy CCTV cameras and trained security personnel at public health facilities is currently under active consideration. PCMSA had earlier suggested a cost-effective model, recommending outsourced guards at DC wage rates (around Rs 13,500 per month), scaled according to hospital size — 20 guards for district hospitals, six for sub-divisional hospitals, and four for community health centres offering 24x7 medicolegal services. Despite several meetings with govt officials, including a cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema, implementation was repeatedly delayed. It was only during a follow-up meeting on April 14, 2025 — involving health minister Dr Balbir Singh, principal health secretary Kumar Rahul, and Cheema — that the finance department reportedly agreed to deploy guards through PESCO, an organisation comprising ex-servicemen. Dr Akhil Sarin, president of PCMSA, welcomed the step, but cautioned that urgency is paramount. "A disturbing pattern of violence emerged against doctors and medical staff at govt facilities. We can no longer afford delays. The state must ensure immediate implementation of security arrangements," he said. He said the spotlight is now on the govt to translate its promises into concrete protection measures — before another incident adds to the growing list of victims. Recent Incidents of Violence A series of disturbing incidents of violence were reported at civil hospitals in Gurdaspur, Derabassi, and Hoshiarpur during April, raising serious concerns about the safety of healthcare staff and patients. On April 12, an altercation erupted at Gurdaspur civil hospital when two groups brought their fight into the emergency ward. The clash led to significant property damage and forced both doctors and patients to flee for safety. Just a day before, Derabassi civil hospital witnessed a similar incident. A clash between two groups led to chaos, with reports of vandalism and hospital staff locking themselves inside rooms to avoid harm. Eleven individuals were said to have been injured in the incident. MSID:: 121693014 413 |
