Review on Ayurvedic Health Drinks and Liquid Nutrition explained in Kshemakutuhala.

Kshemakutuhala is a remarkable text by Kshema Sharma, the Royal physician of King Vikrama during the 16th century A.D. It was based on culinary science. This text is a compilation text which explains varieties of foods and drinks, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, their characteristics, and nutritious value. This work is divided into 12 chapters and each chapter is named Utsava. The author had also given importance to liquid nutrition and had dedicated 2 separate Utsava to that. The Eleventh Utsava describes various appetizer preparations. Different types of Appetizers prepared with the main ingredient such as orange, lemon, citron, sesame paste, mango, the root of Moringa oleifera, lotus fibre, and Indian gooseberry explanation had been given where all of these ingredients have been proven as a good carminative. In the Twelfth Chapter, he mentioned various milk preparations, cool drinks, beverages, buttermilk etc. Different types of Panaka (sweet drinks) were prepared out of the main ingredient like raw mango, ripen mango, lemon, Tamarind, and the fruits of Syzygium cumini, which balance taste and health were included. The method of preparation of black gram Soup and green gram soup with their properties and medicinal use was explained in this text. He mentioned the natural colouring agents like saffron, red sandalwood and sprinkling spices like cardamom, clove, camphor, Indian bay leaf, black pepper so on, which are used to add flavours to food and drinks. This review helps to explore the scientific aspect of ayurvedic health drinks and their indication to the modern world. Unhealthy drinks are common in the present time, it is necessary to trace back to ancient classical ayurvedic text which explains healthy nutritious drinks. By adopting these healthy drinks and liquid preparation, we can maintain and enhance human health however further research is needed to confirm this.