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When you’re at work, you need all the energy to be able to be super productive, everyday for those 8 hours you spend at the office. Now most of us start the day with chai or coffee which is acidic for our gut and during the day, we opt for cold drinks, sherbets, protein shakes (if you’re gymming to lose weight), smoothies and packaged juices  that can easily be bought off the canteen counter. Great options, but did you know that all of these, especially the packaged ones have so much sugar and preservatives in them  that they are bound to make you sick in the long run!

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Some opt for no sugar chai and coffees, for black tea and black coffee to stay on the right side. However, these are drinks that should not be consumed more than twice  in one day! More than 2 cups of chai/coffee lead to a caffeine addiction and makes you more prone to developing mood swings and binge eating habits. Not to mention the anxiety and acidity. So are there any options that give your body the instant energy it needs?

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‍Coconut Water with Chia Seeds

‍Coconut water is a wonder drink that you can have as much as you want, all day, everyday. But hey, make sure it is from the  raw coconut fruit and not a packaged drink. Just go to your regular coconut water vendor and buy as many  raw coconuts as needed. Pour it in glass with 1 tsp of chia seeds. Shake well and have it as many times in a day as you like.

Coconut water is a great alkalizer, a refresher and an energy booster. It will keep your gut calm and will make your skin glow. It is full of electrolytes that are needed to make your body feel fresh and light and more focussed on completing the task at hand. Now that summers are here, it will also protect you from the dehydrating summer heat.

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‍Ginger Cardamom Honey Refresher

‍Ingredients:

Hot water to fill your favorite mug
1 tsp honey (to taste)
1 inch of fresh ginger root
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/4 tsp turmeric

Cut off two thin slices of ginger and place in your cup or mug. Use a garlic press to juice the remaining ginger into your mug. Add both spices and fill your mug with hot water and stir.

Ginger speeds up metabolism and increases blood circulation. It also aids in the digestive process which can help stave off the post lunch food coma that contributes to the afternoon slump. Turmeric, a cousin of ginger, also helps speed things up in the body, including energy levels! Cardamom has long been valued medicinally for its ability to increase circulation of oxygen in body and improves energy. Honey is mother nature's equivalent of an energy shot and is one of the best kinds of sugars for your body.

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‍Bael Sherbet

‍Bael is a wonderful summertime fruit that cools down your body, is amazing for your gut health and is delicious to have as an energy booster. At work, you will notice that you’re craving something sweet, something that relieves that acidity induced anxiety. Bael sherbet will be your drink in shining armour, as they say. Bael naturally fights viral and bacterial infections, can reduce inflammation, and is considered a good cure for a number of diseases. It can relieve constipation, diarrhoea, indigestion, ulcers, piles, and respiratory problems. That apart, it also helps the body fight against cancer, diabetes, and sexual dysfunctions. Find the recipe here

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‍Aam Panna

‍Aam Panna or Green Mango Drink is a tangy, drink made of green mango/unripe mango pulp which is rich in pectin, malic, citric and oxalic acids. It is a great rehydration drink which prevents the loss of necessary salts and iron from our bodies.It beats the heat by rehydrating the body. Among the several components involved in making a glass of aam-panna, salt and sugar are primary. Aam panna is a wholesome rehydrating agent, its salt and sugar base helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance within the body. Aam Panna also prevents the loss of necessary nutrients like iron. Aam Panna is rich in several nutrients like the protein Pectin only found in unripe mango. It is also rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, niacin, iron, and folate. In fact, one glass of aam panna by itself is enough to provide for your daily need of iron.It is also a super convenient drink to make a concentrate , pack for work and to add water and drink, any time during the day. Spend some part of your Sunday morning making this concentrate, bottle it up and pack it for work everyday. Make sure you don’t go for the packages versions of the drink  because they’d be high in sugar. You can add 1 tsp of sugar and rock salt as per taste. Find the recipe here

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‍Buttermilk or Chaach

Ingredients:

A pinch of rock salt
A pinch of jeera powder
A pinch of black pepper powder
1 glass of water
½ cup curd

Add all the dry ingredients to the curd and whip it while adding water till the mix is fully combined and is thin.

The humble buttermilk is a super easy drink that you can have at work, fresh because all you really need is a curd , some rock salt, jeera powder, black pepper powder mix and some water. These will be easily available at your office canteen, though the powder mix you can make at home and take to work.

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Cheers,

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Lovneet