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Rajasthanis beat the heat with Bel fruit drink
by Lokendra Singh
Jaipur: With temperatures soaring across North India, as summer reaches its peak, people in Rajasthan are drinking glassfulls of Bel fruit juice to beat the heat. Bel, a summer fruit, is known both for its medicinal properties and its effectiveness in countering the heat. "It grows on high trees.It is good for the health, as it is natural.That's why we prefer Bel juice in summers," said Shivram Chowdhary, a local, fond of drinking Bel juice. In summers, in Rajasthan, this round, green fruit and with other summer fruits like mangoes, papaya or pineapples is in great demand. "Its quite popular in summers.It benefits everyone during the summers.It stops diarrhoea and also cures blood-related problems.It keeps the body cool, and increases efficiency at work," said Puran Singh, a Bel juice maker.
In Jaipur, doctors have certified that Bel juice carries enough minerals
and vitamins required for the human body during the summer. The good quantity
of fructose found in its juice cools the body. "Being an astringent, it
helps in intestinal problems, whether diarrhoea or anything else.It also
helps clear the blood.It prevents dehydration, and helps in ailments like
constipation," claimed Dr. Pawan Kumar, an Ayurvedic doctor. The process
of making Bel juice is quite simple. The pulp of this fruit is mashed
in a mixer with sugar and milk. The good thing about this juice is that
it is sold at a very economical price of five rupees per glass which is
what makes it popular in Jaipur. Surprisingly, Bel is not produced in
Rajasthan but is brought from various parts of UP like Meerut, Haridwar
and Ghaziabad besides Dehradun in Uttaranchal. As per Hindu mythology,
Bel is a sacred fruit and is offered to Lord Shiva. It is also known Belpatra
and Belua.
-May 13, 2006
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