Health Benefits of Curd or Yoghurt | Super For Your Daily Fare

This in India is known as cottage cheese or paneer or chenna. Thus, in India, curd means dahi, whereas, in the west, curd means cottage cheese.

The process starts with milk. It is first pasteurized, then fermented with various live bacteria cultures, and incubated at a specific temperature to encourage bacteria growth.

Technically, Indian Curd or Yogurt is a dairy product made by fermenting milk with bacterial culture. There are immense health benefits of curd. It provides protein and calcium, and it may enhance healthy gut bacteria.

The health benefits of curd range from protecting you against osteoporosis to relieving irritable bowel disease and aiding digestion, but these depend on the type of Dahi consumed.

Similarities Between Curd And Yogurt

1. They both are made from milk and are fermented milk products in nature.
2. Both look similar in their appearance.
3. Both can be easily consumed by lactose-intolerant people, as these do not contain lactose. While in formation, the milk sugar lactose breaks down and is fermented to lactic acid by lactobacilli. Thus, people who can’t have milk can have curd or yoghurt.

This is also evidence that suggests that by 9000 B.C. Neolithic man in Central Asia had domesticated horses, cattle, and camels, and were known to drink their milk. But they may have not known hot to make curds back then.

The discovery of yoghurt is supposed to have been accidental, a happy mistake made by an early man attempting to store milk in a warm climate. Perhaps, that’s how we learnt how to make curds.

A historical record shows that in the 16th century a Turkish doctor saved the life of King Francis I by treating him with yoghurt made from goat’s milk.

The king had been suffering from some type of intestinal illness that no other medicine seemed to help but was apparently cured by yoghurt. An example of the health benefits of curd.

This wondrous cure brought a new surge in the popularity of yoghurt as a health food, though no one quite knew how the yoghurt worked.

Though, it’s significant to know that the health benefits of curd or yoghurt have been known for a long time.

Curd or Yoghurt in the Culinary Sphere

Dahi or yoghurt is one of the staples in all our kitchen pantries. And for a good reason… the health benefits of curd. It is always convenient to be paired with any of our daily meals.

The benefits of curd in food extend beyond just curd recipes. As a result, in Indian cuisine Curd is consumed directly as well as indirectly in different forms.

1. In Curries – Both North and South Indian use curd in their curries.
2. For Marinades – For meat, paneer, tofu and vegetables.
3. For Beverages – Lassi, Chaach, Mango Lassi
4. For Raita – Aloo, Mixed vegetables, Pomegranate
5. For Sweets – Mishti Doi, Shrikhand, Bhapa Doi
6. For Dips – Garlic Dip, Labneh
7. In Bakery – Its acidity helps activate baking soda, making baked goods fluffy and light while its creaminess helps keep baked goods moist.
8. As a Replacer – It can step in for sour cream, mayonnaise or crème fraîche, bringing the same tangy with less guilt.

Health Benefits of Curd or Yoghurt

The health benefits of curds are immense. It is rich in calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium. Curd has amazing health and beauty benefits that can be enjoyed by incorporating just one bowl every day into our diet.

1. Nutrition – It is high in protein, calcium, vitamins, and live culture, or probiotics, which can enhance the gut microbiota. These can offer protection for bones and teeth and help prevent digestive problems.
2. Calcium-Rich – Calcium is essential for the development and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. It is also vital for blood clotting, wound healing, and maintaining normal blood pressure.
3. Good for digestion – It is a great probiotic (an ingredient that contains live bacteria). These good and beneficial bacteria are known to improve gut activity, soothe inflamed digestive systems and treat an upset stomach.
4. Stronger immunity – The active bacteria in the yoghurt fight disease-causing germs and keeps your gut healthy. Yoghurt is packed with vitamins and protein, along with lactobacillus, which boosts your immune system.
5. Health benefits of curd during diarrhoea – Probiotics in yogurt act as a mild laxative. In cases of diarrhoea and dysentery, if curd is used with rice, it reduces the frequency of diarrhoea and other side effects of diarrhoea & abdominal distress, stomach pain and flatulence.
6. Health benefits of curd for lactose intolerants – People who suffer from lactose intolerance develop diarrhoea and gastric problems if they consume milk above a certain threshold quantity. This happens because the acids produced in their stomachs are incapable of digesting milk proteins.
7. Health benefits of curd for the heart – Eating curds every day will help in reducing cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of high blood pressure and hypertension. It helps in keeping the level of cholesterol balanced and the heart healthy.
8. Curd as a beauty enhancer – If the curd is massaged on facial skin, it acts as skin bleach. It also brings softness in the skin. A fine paste of henna mixed with curd is good for treating dandruff. It also acts as an excellent hair conditioner and can be used for treating sunburns.
9. Destressing Curd – In the busy modern life, one of the most common issues among people all around the world is their inability to deal with stress. If you have a bowl of curd on a regular basis, it will help you tame down the stress hormones of your body. It will also help you deal with anxiety better.
10. Health benefits of curds for sexual health – Some studies have shown that consuming curd or dahi may help people who have some sort of sexual health problem, such as sexual impotency, low libido, etc.