Bael juice is a summer solace that can rescue us from the scorching sun. The cooling effect of this hard-shelled fruit is not just restricted to heat relief for the body but is believed to bring calmness to the mind. It’s known as Shiva’s (the hot-tempered deity) favourite fruit, so much so that worshipping Lord Shiva is fruitless without the leaves of the bael tree. The trifoliate shape of the bael leaf signifies the three components or ‘gunas’, namely the sattva, rajas and tamas. And the centre portion of the leaf is concentrated with the perfect balance of the three. For my naturopathy teacher, it was auspicious, purifying and the secret to his vitality and strength at age 98. Bael juice was our mandatory potion—the final cleanse post the four-hour-long healing treatment to create a no-toxin zone. Listen to the Podcast 50 Desi Super Drinks with celebrity nutritionist Lovneet Batra and with one of our Top RJ's RJ Mandee on the RedFM India App