The heat is at its worst and the body needs help. Acharya Balkrishna says the answer has been sitting in Indian kitchens all along. Mix sattu with honey and water and drink it.
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As summer heat peaks across India, Patanjali Yogpeeth co-founder Acharya Balkrishna has shared a simple health tip on Facebook. In a video post, he recommended sattu syrup as a natural way to beat the heat and stay energised through the day.
Acharya Balkrishna described sattu as a summer nectar. He called it an excellent option for anyone looking to give the body natural coolness, energy, and nutrition during extreme heat.
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His recommendation was straightforward. Take barley or gram sattu, add some honey, mix it with enough water to make a thin syrup, and drink it. No complex preparation. No special ingredients. Just a traditional drink that has been part of Indian households for generations.
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Acharya Balkrishna listed specific benefits of sattu syrup in his post. According to him, the drink helps provide coolness to the body, gives natural energy and nutrition, helps keep a person fresh in summer weather, and is considered beneficial in keeping both the body and mind refreshed.
He ended his post with a line that sums up the Patanjali philosophy: “Simple remedies of nature are the basis of healthy life.”
Sattu is a flour made from roasted grains. It is most commonly made from Bengal gram, also known as chana, or from barley. It has been a staple in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh for centuries.
Sattu is not a new health trend. It is an old kitchen ingredient that urban India largely moved away from and is now slowly rediscovering.
Sattu is high in protein and fibre. It is low on the glycemic index, which means it does not cause a sudden spike in blood sugar. It is also easy to digest and relatively inexpensive compared to most protein supplements available in the market today.
The body loses water and minerals rapidly in extreme heat. Drinks that replenish those losses while also providing energy are particularly useful during the summer months.
Sattu syrup works on multiple levels. The fibre in sattu slows digestion and keeps hunger at bay for longer. The roasting process it goes through makes it easier on the stomach than raw gram flour. When mixed with water, it hydrates. When combined with honey, it adds natural sugars for quick energy.
Unlike cold fizzy drinks that provide a temporary cooling sensation but load the body with sugar and artificial ingredients, sattu syrup works from within. It does not just cool the throat. It helps regulate body temperature through nutrition.
The preparation Acharya Balkrishna described is simple. Take two to three tablespoons of barley or gram sattu. Add a teaspoon of honey. Mix with a glass of water, enough to make a thin, drinkable syrup. Stir well and consume.
Some people add a pinch of black salt or roasted cumin powder to enhance the flavour. A squeeze of lemon is also a common addition in many households. None of these additions are mandatory but they do make the drink more flavourful.
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