Gond Katira- Summer’s friend

Gond katira is a popular ingredient of beverages in India, especially in summer. It’s a gummy raisin extracted from Astragalus gummifer. Gond Kateera is called tragacanth gum which is translucent in color. It is an important ingredient and has been in use since ancient times, especially in India. 

Harvested from the hardened sap of acaia tree which is easily found in Africa and India. It has been used as an effective ingredient in the traditional medicine system especially in Ayurveda. It has cooling properties which makes it an essential ingredient in summer that people consume with water milk or other beverages. It is also widely used because it has multiple health benefits. Gond katira holds a special place in Ayurveda because it has been treating coughs, and nosebleeds for centuries.  

Gond katira is used prominently in summer because of its cooling properties. You can use gond katira in summer drinks like sherbets, smoothies, ice cream, faludas, and many more. 

Gond katira is a potent ingredient in summer drinks because of its cooling properties, but that is not all. It has multiple health benefits that are mentioned below:

Gond katira is good for your digestive health:

Gond katira is considered a natural laxative. Along with cooling properties, it also has soothing properties which help in relieving various digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, and inflammation in the stomach. 

Gond katira helps to boost the immune system:

Gond katira possesses antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals in the body. The antioxidative properties of gond katira is beneficial for your health because they help to strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system will help the body to fight viruses that are responsible for common illnesses like colds and flu. 

Gond katira helps with respiratory issues:

Gond katira might help in giving relief from respiratory issues like coughs and congestion. 

Gond katira improves skin health:

Being a cooling agent, gond katira can benefit your skin health. Consuming gond katira in summer can keep your skin hydrated, improve elasticity and enhance overall skin quality. 

Gond Katira regulates blood sugar levels:

Some studies suggest that consuming gond katira can help regulate blood sugar levels. Since it has cooling effects, people should consider the quantity of gond katira they consume in winter.

Gond katira helps in weight management:

People who are on the journey of weight loss can definitely include gond katira in their diet because not only it helps in weight loss but weight management as well. Gond katira is also a source of fiber that will make you feel satiated. 

Gond Katira and Chia Seeds:

Gond katira is an ingredient that people consume with milk, sherbet, lemonade, ice cream, and other foods. It is sometimes mistaken for chia seeds. People sometimes take gond katira for chia seeds and vice-versa, maybe because both are used in similar ways. But here are the key differences between gond katira and chia seeds: 

 

FEATURE	GOND KATIRA	CHIA SEEDS
ORIGIN	Gond katira is a natural resin that is extracted from Astragalus gummifer.	Chia seeds are tiny seeds that come from salvia hispanica plants.
TEXTURE	Gond katira becomes gelatinous after soaking in water. Usually, it is sold in flakes or block form.	They are hard shells but when they are soaked in water they form a gel-like coating after absorbing the liquid.
EFFECTS ON BODY TEMPERATURE	It has cooling properties which is why it is used in summer drinks.	It does not have much impact on body temperature. Chia seeds are considered neutral when it comes to body temperatures.
CULINARY USES	It is usually used in summer drinks like sherbets, faloodas, and ice creams.	One can consume chia seeds orally as a whole after soaking or use them in puddings, smoothies, oatmeals, and ice-creams or sprinkle them on salads or sugar-free desserts.
HEALTH BENEFITS	Gond katira has multiple health benefits. It helps in aiding the digestive system, soothing coughs, promotes healthy skin, and is a treatment for nosebleeds.	Consuming chia seeds is beneficial for your health because it is a good source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. It also helps in losing weight. Nutritionists suggest drinking water with over-soaked chia seeds if you want to lose some weight.
AVAILABILITY	Gond katira is easily available in Indian and Ayurvedic stores, online and offline.	One can easily find chia seeds in nearby grocery stores or health stores.

Gond Katira and Sabja Seeds:

Gond katira and sabja seeds, while both popular ingredients in Indian cuisine and known for their cooling effects, come from different sources and have distinct properties:

 

FEATURE	GOND KATIRA	SABJA SEEDS
ORIGIN	Gond katira is extracted from a sap of astragalus gummifer.	Sabja seeds are extracted from holy basil also known as tulsi.
TEXTURE	One can find gond katira in the form of flakes or blocks. They form a gelatinous smooth texture when soaked in water.	Sabja seeds are tiny ovals that have hard outer shells. They develop a gel-like coating when soaked in water because they absorb the liquid. They have a slightly crunchy texture.
EFFECTS ON BODY TEMPERATURE	Gond katira has a cooling effect on the body that is why it is widely used in summers as a part of drinks.	Sabja seeds also have cooling properties but not as intense as gond katira. Also, it is an ideal ingredient to include if you want to lose body weight.
CULINARY USES	Gond katira is ideally used in summer drinks because of its cooling effects on the body. It is also used to thicken curries.	Sabja seeds are soaked in water and one can consume that overnight soaked sabja seeds in water as whole. You can also add them in weight loss drinks or puddings or smoothies.
HEALTH BENEFITS	Gond katira has cooling effects that not only keeps your body hydrated in summers but also ensures keeping your body cool. It also soothes coughs, promotes healthy skin and aids digestion. If you have frequent nosebleeds, gond katira can help you curb those.	Sabja seeds are a good source of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, iron and calcium. They are packed with nutrition and help in weight loss and management.
AVAILABILITY	You can buy gond katira in Indian and Ayurvedic stores online.	You can buy sabja seeds in grocery stores and health food

Important Considerations for gond katira:

• Gond Katira is safe but in excessive amounts it can cause digestive issues in some people so be careful when choosing how you are going to incorporate gond katira in your daily life. 
• Consult a dietician/nutritionist before starting with gond katira as an ingredient in your diet. 
• Gond katira might help to improve skin health and manage weight but when used in traditional ways because there is not enough scientific research on this. 
• If you have any medical condition that requires you to take medicines, consult your doctor before incorporating gond katira in your diet. It is necessary to consult a doctor before because gond katira may interact with a few medicines. 

How To Incorporate Gond Katira in Your Diet?

Beverages:

Gond katira has cooling effects, that is why it is best to use in beverages. It will help you to keep hydrated and have a cooling impact on your body temperature. Use gond katira in lemonade, sherbet, falooda, buttermilk, milkshakes and smoothies. 

Desserts:

Gond katira makes an excellent choice of toppings for Indian desserts like Falooda and kulfi. 

Culinary uses:

Gond katira can also be used in curries and soups as a thickening agent. Though not common in households, you can see its use in traditional dishes just for texture. 

Important Tips to Use Gond Katira:

• Soak gond katira in water for a few hours before using. Gond katira will become soft and easy to consume. 
• Be mindful of the quantity of gond katira. If you are going to start to consume gond katira ensure you start with small amounts. 
• Gond katira is high in fiber so it is better to consume plenty of water along with it to prevent any digestive issues. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. When to use gond katira?

Ans. Gond katira can be used in summers because of its cooling effects. You can add it in your beverages, desserts and even curries as a thickening agent. 

1. Is gond katira good for hair?

Ans. Gond katira is used as a thickening agent in hair care products as it can be effective in increasing the volume of hair. You should consult an expert before using such hair care products for yourself. 

1. Is gond katira good for skin?

Ans. Gond Katira is good for the skin when used in traditional ways. Drink it in summer drinks after soaking it for a few hours. You can also use gond katira paste with skin-friendly products like egg white or curd/yogurt etc. Whenever you want to soak gond katira ensure to soak it for a few hours so it can take the gelatinous form.