Weight loss for better digestion: 3 raita recipes for better health

Chances are, raita or dahi are part of your daily diet. From cooling your body to aiding digestion, Raita can achieve the perfect balance needed for a healthy gut! What’s more, you can give it nice additions with cucumbers, spinach, pineapple, onions and more, which can not only improve the taste of your meal, but can also improve your overall health. And it can help with weight loss too! So, let’s explore some of the best raita recipes!

Health Shots spoke to Komal Malik, Chief Dietitian at the Asiatic Hospital in New Delhi, who suggested some of the best raita recipes which are good for both weight loss and digestion.

How does raita help with digestion and weight loss?

To prepare raita, cottage cheese is used, which contains little unhealthy fat and a lot of protein. It’s high in fiber and low in calories, making you feel fuller for longer. Plus, cottage cheese hydrates you because it’s so light and cooling. Here are 5 benefits of raita for digestion and weight loss according to Malik:

1. Raita is a form of fermented milk product that contains live and healthy bacteria. It is prepared by mixing cottage cheese and garnished with vegetables and fruits, making it a suitable condiment for weight loss.

2. Raita is a nutrient rich food with high quality protein and is a potential source of vitamins and minerals. Contains live bacteria such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus.

3. These active bacteria act as probiotics, which are known to have a positive effect on digestion. It has beneficial effects in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and IBS.

4. Raita is a low-energy, low-calorie food. It increases the feeling of fullness and reduces the feeling of hunger, which makes it excellent aid in weight loss.

5. Cottage cheese mixed with fruit and vegetables has a protective role against weight gain. In fact, the probiotics in raita improve the intestinal microbiota, which is also involved in weight maintenance. In addition to the fact that the low-calorie fruits and vegetables in raita are high in fiber and water, this combination helps in weight management.

Check out 3 raita recipes for weight loss:

1. Peanut raita

Ingridients
Cottage cheese 100 grams
Peanuts 20 grams
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Black pepper/red chili powder 1/4 tsp
Roasted cumin powder 1/4 tsp

The method

• Beat the curd well until it is smooth and free of lumps.
• Roast 20 grams of peanuts. Remove the skin and grind them roughly and mix with whipped cottage cheese.
• Add salt, pepper and roasted cumin powder and serve.

Read also: This 5-minute Batua Raita recipe is the ultimate winter fun!

2. Beetroot and spinach raita

Ingridients
Cottage cheese 100 grams
Spinach 40 grams
Beetroot 30 grams
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Black pepper/red chili powder 1/4 tsp
Roasted cumin powder 1/4 tsp

The method

• Beat the curd well until it is smooth and free of lumps.
• Pick the spinach leaves, wash them and cook them over a slow fire until soft, grind them into a smooth paste, grate the beetroot and spinach paste and mix the grated beetroot with whipped cottage cheese.
• Add salt, pepper, roasted cumin powder and serve.

3. Mix in the raita berries

Ingridients
Cottage cheese 100 grams
Dry mixed berries (blueberries/cranberries/strawberries) 35 grams
Castor sugar (optional)

The method

• Beat the curd well until it is smooth and free of lumps.
• Soak the strawberries for 20 minutes, chop them and mix them with whipped cottage cheese
• Add castor sugar to taste and serve.