FoodDiscover ayran: The ultimate heart-friendly summer drink

Discover ayran: The ultimate heart-friendly summer drink

Ayran is a healthy and tasty drink.
Ayran is a healthy and tasty drink.
Images source: © Canva | EsatOzdemir99

5:46 PM EDT, August 8, 2024

Ayran, though it tastes like diluted yogurt, stands out for its wealth of nutrients. This extraordinary drink not only protects against stroke and heart attack but also provides many valuable nutrients.

Ayran is considered the healthiest drink in the world. It is consumed in Turkey, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Because of its light consistency and refreshing taste, it pairs well with heavy and fatty dishes. Moreover, it can protect against cardiovascular diseases.

What is ayran?

Ayran is a traditional Turkish drink. Nowadays, it can be found not only in well-stocked supermarkets but also in restaurants serving kebabs. This drink tastes like a mix of kefir and natural yogurt and is slightly salty and sour. It is most often consumed during hot weather because it excellently quenches thirst. Nutritionists recommend including ayran in the daily diet regardless of the season.

You can prepare ayran at home. The necessary ingredients are: 14 oz of thick Greek yogurt, 2 cups of mineral water, and optionally mint, parsley, salt, garlic, or mango. All ingredients should be placed in a tall bowl and blended until foamy. This prepared ayran can then be poured into a glass.

Ayran quenches thirst and has health benefits.
Ayran quenches thirst and has health benefits.© Canva | Esin Deniz

Why is it worth drinking ayran?

Ayran is a low-calorie source of micro- and macroelements. It contains live bacterial cultures that support the gut microbiome, which translates to properly functioning the digestive and immune systems. Moreover, ayran provides protein, calcium, B vitamins, vitamin D, sodium, and electrolytes, which are especially important during hot weather and intense physical activity.

Furthermore, ayran improves digestion and protects against diarrhea and constipation. It also has properties that lower high blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. This way, ayran protects against atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.

Although ayran is consumed mainly in the summer in Arab countries, drinking it regularly year-round can bring many health benefits. Thanks to its high content of vitamins and minerals, consuming one package of ayran daily supports the immune, nervous, skeletal, circulatory, and digestive systems. Moreover, this dairy drink has only 47 calories per glass, which makes it an ideal choice for people on a low-calorie diet.

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