Start the day with fresh and affordable health drinks

They say, all’s well that ends well. But early morning fitness enthusiasts of Kolkata swear by the mantra ‘all’s well that begins well’. Even before the whole debate around the best pre- and post-workout food started in the last few years, morning walkers and joggers had found the perfect way to kickstart their day on a healthy note with the help of a host of morning boosters that are available at popular spots soon after the crack of dawn for almost two decades now. Places frequented by morning walkers — including Rabindra S arobar, Central Park and Victoria Memorial area — have stalls selling everything from fresh amla and neem juices, beler pana, to the more filling sprouts salad that not only take care of one’s daily requirement of micronutrients but also prevent people from binge-eating after sweating it out.

‘I love having amla or neem juice after my morning run’ For actor Shaheb Bhattacherjee, who is a regular morning walker, having a health drink after his workout is a must. “After my run, I have a glass of either fresh amla or neem juice. Both help purify the blood. At times, I also go for beler pana. Apart from the drinks, sometimes I also have a moong-chana salad with fresh lime and cucumber. It’s highly nutritious as well as tasty,” he said.

‘I make fresh juices from 3 am daily’ Hare Krishna Das, who has been selling health drinks in front of Rabindra Sarobar since 2001, gets his first client as early as 5 am. “I’ve over 200 customers who start flocking to my stall early morning to choose from the nine types of juices I prepare fresh everyday. From blood pressure, sugar, acidity to constipation and weight issues, each of these drinks has unique health benefits,” says Hare Krishna, who wakes up at 3 am to prepare the juices from fresh raw ingredients like amla, neem, tulsi, turmeric and more. “Some prefer having methi and honey in warm water before their walk or run and after coming back, they choose their drink based on their requirement. Women are more into aloe vera and bottle gourd juice that are good for skin and hair as well as to keep weight in check,” he says. In case of any leftover, Hare Krishna makes sure to dispose them of. “I don’t add anything other than water in my juices — they are all pure and fresh. However, some ask for lime water or a bit of honey in their drink when it’s too bitter for their taste. For cold, I recommend tulsi and ginger juice mixed with honey. Chirotar jol (soaked bitter stick water) is another popular item here. It feels really nice when people come up and tell me my juices are helping them in their fitness journey,” he signs off. ‘I ’m now a part of the morning adda’ Stationed in front of Central Park since 1997, for Sambhu Bishal’s customers, the health drinks sold by him are like medicine. “I can’t even take a day off as I’ve become a part of the morning adda. A group of elderly would sit in front of my shop after their morning walk and discuss various issues over my drinks,” says Shambhu, who insists his customers have a slice of cucumber on empty stomach as that improves digestion. “Every juice is made using fresh ingredients. Neem, amla, tulsi, pudina are all-time favourites,” he says. A glass of juice that used to cost `3 when he initially set up this stall is now sold for `20. “At times customers want a mix of two-three juices and that costs `30, he adds.
‘After football, I have neem juice’ Arnab Ghosh, a student who goes to Salt Lake every morning to practice football, says, “My mother makes sure I have neem juice outside Central Park after practice everyday. She says it will purify my blood. After that, I have the moong-chana salad as that’s tasty and so nutritious.”

‘Neem-haldi juice after walk boosts immunity’ Sandeep Bagrecha, a businessman who regularly walks at Rabindra Sarobar, said, “For the past three to four years, I’m having a glass of neem and haldi juice regularly after my walk to boost my immunity.”

Know your juices

Ginger juice: Improves digestion; controls acidity; removes bad breath; relieves cold and congestion

Tulsi juice :Regulates blood sugar; reduces stress; helps treat respiratory ailments like chronic bronchitis, asthma etc

Amla juice: Rich in nutrients, it boosts immunity, metabolism and prevents viral and bacterial

ailments, including cold and cough; aids in digestion; helps in maintaining clear skin, healthy hair and good eyesight.

Neem juice: Aids in the breakdown of body fat, which keeps weight in check; improves metabolism; has anti-ageing properties

Alo vera juice : Helps get rid of constipation; rich source of Vitamin C; controls blood sugar level.
Mar 11, 2020, 01:00 IST