Curd is a rich source of proteins, minerals, vitamins and electrolytes important for the human body. It consists of the following essential nutrients:

Health Benefits of Curd

The host of health benefits associated with curd are:

• Curd is known to have a soothing effect on the stomach and is beneficial to the digestive system. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery as it absorbs water from the intestine and acts as a stool binder.
• The nutrients in curd act as immunity boosters and help strengthen the body’s defence mechanism, thereby providing more protection against seasonal diseases.
• It is a healthy source of natural milk proteins and extremely beneficial for those with lactose intolerance.
• Being rich in calcium, it promotes bone growth, strengthens the teeth and protects bones against osteoporosis and arthritis.
• It lowers blood pressure. It helps lower bad cholesterol and reduces risk of heart attack by ensuring a healthy heart.
• Regular consumption of curd hydrates the skin and improves skin texture and complexion. In fact, applying curd on the face helps reduce blemishes and strengthens the collagen in the skin.

Incorporating Curd in Daily Diet

The easiest way to include curd in your daily diet is to have a bowl of curd after meals. Alternatively, you can club it with other food items as follows:

• Curd mixed with rice and a pinch of salt tastes delicious.
• A glass of buttermilk after the meals proves beneficial for digestion of food. Occasionally you can consume curd in the form of lassi, shrikhand etc.
• Adding a few pieces of mango or strawberry to the curd and blending it, results in a healthy and tasty snack. During the scorching summer heat, one can experience a soothing effect by having curd and cucumber raita or blending curd into a smoothie. One can flavour curd using different fruits and freeze it as dessert. Even adding a little sugar to a chilled cup of curd makes it delightful.
• Curd can also be used in vegetable salads and can be substituted for whipped cream.

Precautions while Consuming Curd

• According to Ayurveda, curd should not be consumed at night.
• Consume curd when it is fresh as stale curd can cause a range of side-effects including diarrhoea and abdominal cramping.
• Any dicotyledonous seed (which can be split into two) or its flour cannot be consumed with raw curd or buttermilk as it leads to dvidal. Curd or buttermilk should be warmed properly if it is to be consumed with a dicotyledonous seed. E.g.: Warming curd before preparing curd bundi raita.

Incorporate curd in your daily diet and enjoy the health benefits this ‘white wonder’ is set to offer.