Curd is a comfort food in India. It’s light, nourishing, cooling, and soothing—exactly what the doctor ordered for an intense Indian summer. It makes sense that it is among the top 10 foods for weight loss in the summer.
Your body receives 100–150 calories, 2g saturated fat, 3.5g fat, 20g sugar, and roughly 8–10g protein from six ounces of curd, or ¾ cup. It also supplies your body with roughly 20% of your recommended daily intake of calcium and 20% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
It’s obvious that curd has a wide range of advantages. We’ve enumerated ten of them for you.
How is dairy produced?
Its beneficial benefits stem from the bacterial fermentation of milk during its manufacturing procedure. Yoghurt is made with probiotics such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. They turn lactose in milk into lactic acid by fermenting it.
The resulting lactic acid coagulates the milk’s proteins, giving it a sour taste and thick consistency. Once this is achieved, yoghurt can be eaten plain or, if desired, sweetened or flavoured with fruits. Yoghurt can be used to make smoothies or added to a wide range of recipes.
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Are Curds and Yoghurt the Same Thing?
The distinction between yoghurt and curd is not very noticeable; both are dairy products prepared using somewhat comparable techniques. Yoghurt gets its texture and sour flavour from the addition of microorganisms that ferment milk, creating lactic acid. On the other side, curd is created by coagulating or curdling milk by adding acidic ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice, or rennet.
Yoghurt is a great option for naturally occurring probiotics since it contains lactobacillus bacteria along with other microorganisms. While curds do contain some bacteria, they do not have as much as yoghurt.
Curds and yoghurt differ in another way: curds can frequently be processed further to create cheese. Both yoghurt and curds can be bought plain or flavoured and served as drinks and desserts. Finally, even though yoghurt and curd have lower lactose contents, those who are lactose intolerant should choose yoghurt.
Is curd a nice summertime food?
Indian food has long included dahi as a staple ingredient. People like to eat curd before any significant or auspicious occasion, such as an exam or the first day of a job. It has several health advantages in addition to being delicious.
Curd is the best food you can take to feel reenergized, especially in the sweltering summer heat, according to dietician Hari Lakshmi, Consultant – Dietitian/Nutritionist, Motherhood Hospitals, Chennai, who speaks with HealthShots.
Keeps you hydrated
Summertime depletes your energy reserves, and it’s hard to stay hydrated while you’re perspiring nonstop. However, because curd is so light and cool, it becomes even more important to combat the heat and humidity when the weather is hot. Additionally, eating a bowl of curd every day increases your energy and helps you stay hydrated.
Curd facilitates digestion
The digestive system weakens and slows down when the temperature rises, which can cause a number of digestive problems. And curd can help you here. The abundance of beneficial bacteria in curd helps to maintain gut health and enhances digestion.
The curd is the best medication if you have bloating or indigestion. Additionally, it lessens acidity and heartburn. It also strengthens your immunity and helps you fight off infections and a variety of illnesses, including the common cold.
Your skeletal system becomes more robust.
Osteoporosis, or weak bones, is a disorder that curd helps to prevent. This is one of the curd’s main health advantages. However, the curd can lessen the likelihood of it. Similar to milk and other dairy products, there is a lot of calcium in curd. It contributes to both the preservation and strengthening of bone density.
Maintains control over your weight
Curd is the best choice if you want to lose a few pounds in the summer. Probiotics included in curd help regulate your digestive tract and boost metabolism. This will help in the process of losing weight. Curd is a fantastic superfood for weight loss because it is high in proteins and low in carbohydrates.
Controls tension and anxiety
Summertime is usually thought of as a time for travel and leisure, but this isn’t always the case. Summers are usually more hectic than relaxing, with vacations and picnics to organise and work to balance. Using curd can help with this. It is well known that eating a bowl of curd will help you relax and manage your stress levels. It can also lower anxiety.
Enhances the skin curd to lighten your skin tone.
For radiant skin and enhanced beauty, use curd rather than other chemical-laden cosmetic products. Curd is packed with minerals, including zinc, phosphorous, and vitamin E, all of which help to improve the texture and tone of your skin. To get soft, radiant skin, mix gramme flour, curd, and lemon.
It even gets rid of dandruff
. Have you ever attempted and failed to get rid of dandruff using a variety of hair care products? Time to give curd a go! Since dandruff is really a fungal infection, curd has antifungal qualities since lactic acid is present in it.
Put some curd on your scalp and let it sit there for about an hour. To get rid of the dandruff, wash it with water. Regular consumption of curd can also enhance your body’s ability to absorb vitamins and minerals from other meals. Isn’t it time you expanded your meal a little bit?
Lowers High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Risk:
Regular yoghurt consumption has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart-related illnesses. [13] Yoghurt thereby lowers the chance of heart disease.
Relieves Stomach Pain During Diarrhoea
Eating curd is shown to have a significant function in our diet when we have upset stomachs because it improves our digestive activity. One of the curd’s most significant health advantages is this.
Good bacteria support the maintenance of your general immunity, which strengthens your defences against a wide range of illnesses and infections. Your vitality can be depleted by an upset stomach or a malfunctioning digestive system, so be sure to drink lots of chaos (buttermilk), which helps to maintain the health of your stomach and restore it.
Aids in Reducing Heat in the Summer
Summer is one of the finest seasons to eat curd every day. There are numerous advantages to eating curd in the summer.
A glass or two of lassi or chhach, which is made with curd, a probiotic, is recommended for anyone who spends a lot of time outside during the hot summer months in order to help cool down the body and prevent heatstroke. Consuming chilled curd, lassi, or chaas as part of your regular diet could always
Stops Hair Loss And Promotes Hair Growth
This dairy product with live cultures nourishes our hair and helps to unclog hair follicles to promote the growth of healthy hair and lessen hair loss. Due to its numerous health benefits, which include improved skin and hair, curd is a highly consumed dietary item in most families.
Curd can be applied to the skin or face by combining it with besan. It contributes to elastic and silky skin. Skin feels moisturised and renewed.
Curd’s Adverse Effects
Although this dairy product has many positive impacts on health and appearance, there aren’t many negative consequences either. However, some people may experience the following problems:
Cause obesity
While eating curd on a daily basis aids in weight loss, consuming too much dahi might result in obesity.
Overindulgence may result in constipation.
Some people may find that eating curd every day is too heavy, which can lead to constipation. Few people have trouble digesting curd.
May Make Joint Pain Worse
Consuming curd on a daily basis strengthens your teeth and bones, but it should be avoided by those with arthritis as it can exacerbate joint discomfort. It’s a good idea to consume curd at least once a day, but try not to eat it more than once. Anything in excess is unhealthy, so try not to eat curd every day or several times a day.
FAQS
Does curd pose a health risk?
Curd has many health benefits. In addition to being high in calcium, it also contains zinc, magnesium, potassium, B2, B12, B5, and D vitamins.
Is eating curd at night safe?
Good bacteria found in curd naturally enhance gut health and facilitate digestion. But eating curd at night might lead to the production of mucus in the nasal passages, particularly for those who have asthma, are prone to colds, or have other respiratory issues.
Why do people feed sugar and curd before performing a significant or auspicious task?
Every Indian home has an age-old custom that is typically met with sour expressions or eye rolls. There is, however, a scientific explanation for this. Vitamins, calcium, and beneficial bacteria abound in curds. It maintains intestinal health and facilitates digestion. You get a much-needed energy boost from sugar, especially if you have a long and hectic day ahead of you. Curd and sugar work together to chill the body and provide much-needed energy for continued activity.
