Health Benefits of Curd

Curd, also known as yogurt, can be described as a dairy product that is made from fermented milk. In other words, when milk is curdled with rennet, or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and the liquid portion is drained off, what remains is known as curd. The quality of yogurt depends on the starter used to curdle it, while the time taken to curdle depends upon the level of heat. In hot weather, it takes less than 6 hours for the curling process to be complete, while in case of cold weather, curdling might take up to 16 hours. The active culture of yogurt, combined with its high nutritional value, has credited it with a lot of health and nutrition benefits. However, known for its pleasant and refreshing taste, it is one of the highly versatile and therapeutic foods in India. To know about the benefits of eating curd, read further.

Nutritional Value of Curd

Nutrients/100gm	Content
Calories	61
Carbohydrates	4.7 g
Proteins	5.1 g
Total Fats	3.5 g
Minerals
Calcium	121 mg
Iron	0.1 mg
phosphorus	141 mg
Magnesium	12.0 mg
Phosphorus	95.0 mg
Selenium	2.2 mcg
Electrolytes
Potassium	155 mg
Sodium	46.0 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A	99.0 IU
Vitamin C	0.5 mg
Riboflavin	0.1 mg
vitamin K	0.2 mcg
vitamin B12	0.4 mcg
vitamin B2	0.2 mg
Folate	7 mcg

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Yogurt

Consumption of yogurt or curd has been associated with strengthening of the immune system.
One serving of yogurt per day is said to be beneficial for those suffering from osteoporosis.
Low-fat or skim curd is good for people who are suffering from higher levels of cholesterol.
Even those who are lactose-intolerant can consume yogurt, as bacteria present in it breaks down the lactose before it enters your body.
The bacteria in curd can help digest food and thus, alleviate the problem of stomach infection.
Those suffering from vaginal infection have also been found to have benefited from yogurt.
Studies have suggested that consumption of curd might help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
The active culture of yogurt has been found to be beneficial in case of constipation and colon cancer.
Curd is also said to be helpful in treating inflammatory bowel disease and H. pylori infection.
Yogurt helps you feel fuller and is thus, a very good snack for those trying to lose weight.
Being rich in calcium, curd is good for the health of bones as well as the teeth. For those who have difficulty in the digestion of lactose in milk, yogurt is an important source of calcium. Curd contains an enzyme which breaks down lactose to aid proper digestion.
Eating yogurt on a regular basis can help you absorb the nutrients in other foods as well.
Consumption of curd helps preventing diseases such as dysentery.
Curd is beneficial for those suffering from vaginal infection.
Curd is also a beauty product. It acts as skin bleach and renders softness to the skin.
Henna mixed with curd is effective for dandruff. It also acts as a hair conditioner and is remedial for sunburns.
Curd helps in the treatment of insomnia. Massaging the head with curd helps the patient as it induces sleep.
Curd is effective in treating jaundice.
Regularly consuming curd helps in cleaning the colon, get rid of disease causing bacteria and thus prevents colon cancer.
Curd is rich in vitamin D which helps our body to absorb and use calcium. This vitamin is essential for people who are above fifty years of age.
Curd is effective in controlling dandruff. Applying the curd on hair and leaving it for almost thirty minutes and then washing it off using shampoo prevents dandruff.
Curd is effective in lowering blood pressure. It also reduces bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart attack.

Buying and Storing tips

Look for curd made from organic milk; they are available in varied flavours and sizes.
Use fresh curd; stale curd has plenty of side effects like diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping.
To preserve the freshness of the curd, store it in fridge at a temperature less than 5°C for several weeks.

Cooking tips

A bowl of fresh curd and fruits is a great way to start your day. Add sour curd to salads and smoothies, which make it taste better.
Sour curd is added to vegetable curries instead of tomatoes to make it rich and delicious.
Add cubes of cooked eggplant to plain yogurt, mint leaves, garlic and cayenne.
Mix granola or cold cereal with yogurt to make cereal and milk breakfast.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Health & Fitness'