My earliest memories of Chyawanprash are that of staring at a spoon of this gooey brown paste, that my sister and I were forced to have every day; my father would be standing on the side somewhere telling us how he grew up eating it too and extolling the benefits of this superfood. Frankly, I really disliked the thick odd-smelling “immunity-booster” that we downed every day. I know my mum was trying to protect her children from the various diseases and make them strong but we never took it without a fight. I know a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about!!
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What is Chyawanprash?
It’s a herbal tonic widely consumed in India and is known for its healthy and natural ingredients. It is made by using an age-old Ayurvedic formula and comprises of herbs which are said to possess powerful immune-boosting capabilities. When we were growing up there was only one brand in the market – Dabur Chywanprash but now there are a number of other brands of Chyawanprash available – each one with its own unique advantages – but there are a few core ingredients that are common in all variants.
Traditionally, Chywanaprash is made with Indian Gooseberry(amla) which is the main ingredient and it’s cooked with sugar, honey, ghee, sesame oil, herbs and various spices to form a sticky mixture. Amla is super rich in Vitamin C and is a powerhouse of antioxidants. The addition of the herbs and spices to the Chyawwanprash, each play an important role is safeguarding your child from a number of illnesses.
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Why You Should Give Your Child Chyawanprash
- Boosts immunity to help protect them from cold, cough and other infections
- Helps keep the digestive system healthy and clean
- Gives them a boost of energy
The Right Age To Start Your Child On Chyawanprash
All the Chyawanprash brands in the market suggest that your child should be at least 3 years old to start on it. Their digestives systems are quite delicate so if you do give it to them before that, they may not be able to digest it properly.
Brands In the Market
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When we were growing up there was only one brand that we all knew of – Dabur Chyawanprash. They had one sweet-sour flavoured Chywanprash. Recently, Dabur launched Chyawanprash Junior and has two flavours – Mango and Mixed Fruit. Maybe if we had a choice of flavours we wouldn’t have given our mum such grief.
There are also other popular brands in the market like Himalaya Chyavanprash, Patanjali Chawanprash, Organic India Chyawanprash, Himani Sona Chandi Chyawanprash and Baidyanath Chyawanprash. So you now have a choice.
Modern Day Alternatives To Chawanprash
In India, Chawanprash has also been the sole immunity boosting tonic to take when anyone falls ill. I can hear my mum’s voice so clearly. But now with so many different immunity boosting options in the market, do we actually need/want to give our children Chyawanprash? In the past, Indian parents turned to Chyawanprash but it may not be the case anymore.
Let’s have a look at what else is there in the immunity boosting market
- Cipla has launched ActivKids Immuno Boosters – chocolate which comes in bite-sized pieces and has all the health benefits packaged into it. Read all about it here.
- Cod liver oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D and K. All of these are needed to build your child’s immunity and overall energy levels. A capsule of cod liver oil every day can work wonders.
- Probiotic supplements for kids are also good immunity building options. Probiotics help keep their gut healthy and clean. Don’t we know how so many of their illnesses stem from the tummy!
- There are some many different Vitamin supplements in the market, each having its own special role in keeping your child’s healthy and energised.
You Can Make Your Own Chyawanprash
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If you don’t want to give your child any bottled Chyawanprash, you can make your own.
- You need amla (Indian gooseberry), jaggery and ghee.
- Steam amla in a cooker and separate the cooked fleshy part (remove the seed).
- Melt some ghee and saute the amla and grated jaggery.
- Continue to cook till it’s well cooked and well mixed.
- You can add honey also to it if you want.
You can add cardamom powder, fennel powder, cinnamon powder and some salt to taste.
There you have your very own fresh home-made Chyawanprash ready!! So get your bottle of Chyawanprash or make some at home. Also let us know your take on Chyawanprash and how it helps your child’s immunity.
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from Kids Stop Press
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