If you thought no meal is complete without dessert, then trust us, you missed out on something! You skipped mentioning the mouth fresheners. We believe a meal seems complete when you have a refreshing paan or some delicious sweet-and-sour digestives at the end. Some keep it simple and chew a spoonful of saunf or ajwain. These common spices have been on our dining tables since time immemorial. Saunf (or fennel seeds) is a storehouse of nutrients that not only adds a layer of aroma to our meals but also benefits our health in multiple ways - one such benefit is aiding digestion. Hence, we have brought you a delicious churan recipe that is not only refreshing but also includes ingredients, alongside saunf, that boost digestion. But before delving into the recipe, let's learn more about the goodness of saunf.
Why Saunf Is Considered a Popular Digestive:
- Saunf is a diuretic in nature and helps remove toxins from the body.
- Saunf contains volatile oils like estragole, fenchone, and anethole that speed up the metabolism and digestion process in the body and promote the production of gastric enzymes.
- The volatile oils in saunf also have a cooling effect, reducing the heat in your gut produced after meal consumption.
- Saunf contains various antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress and prevent fat accumulation in the body.
- Saunf possesses anti-microbial properties that help eliminate food odours from the mouth and prevent bad breath.
Also Read: End Your Meal Right! Keep This Homemade Mouth Freshener And Digestive Handy
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What Goes Into Making DIY Churan For Digestion:
Saunf is the key ingredient for making the churan, as you now know the rationale behind it. Next, we add green cardamom (elaichi) to the recipe for its carminative effect. For the uninitiated, the essential oil menthone in this spice helps alleviate acidity, indigestion, and bloating post-meal.
We then incorporate some dhana dal (roasted coriander seeds) and ajwain into the recipe for their anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. Both these ingredients contain nutrients that aid in nutrient absorption from food, facilitate digestion, and eliminate bad breath.
How To Make The DIY Churan At Home:
The recipe is super simple. Start by roasting saunf, ajwain, and cardamom to activate their essential oils. Then transfer the churan to a blender, add dhana dal to it, and grind. Dhana dal can be added directly as it comes pre-roasted.
We prefer it coarsely ground for its crunch, but you can always blend it into a smooth powder. You can consume it raw or mix it with some lukewarm water and drink it. Click here for the detailed recipe.
Note: While we prefer the churan as is for its natural flavours and aroma, you can always enhance it by adding some rock salt and lime juice to the powder for added flavours.