Benefits of Eating Curd in Summer - Docindia.org

Curd, often known as dahi or yoghurt, is a milk-based food product that is highly nutritious. To make curd, warm milk is mixed with a starter of yoghurt or curd and allowed to ferment for a few hours. After the process of fermentation is complete, the texture of the liquid milk changes gradually into a thick pudding-like consistency. Curd can be made with any type of milk, but since cow's milk has the highest protein level and the best flavour, it's usually used. It is very beneficial to our health. In India, it is also considered comfort food, as Indians have been consuming it for ages. They use curd for multiple purposes, such as to tackle digestion issues, for a cooling effect to beat the heat and more. We should consume curd during the summer season because it is cooling, light, and refreshing. We can consume curd in multiple ways:

Plain Curd:

We consume plain curd or can add a pinch of salt or sugar according to our taste. We can also add fruits to our curd and can add a few other spices like cinnamon, cumin, turmeric and black salt.

Adding Curd To Course:

Different dishes can be made with curd, some by mixing curd into different fruits and vegetables, such as smoothies. Another dish is raita, which Indians love to have with every meal during summer; whether it is a home meal or a grand function, you will always find raita as one of their dishes. Curd is also taken with rice as a dessert.

Other Methods:

Some people prefer to take curd in different forms rather than taking it directly. Some other ways of consuming curd are buttermilk (chaas), frozen yoghurt, soft dough, etc. Buttermilk is a fermented dairy drink, which can be drunk to get refreshment.

Benefits of Curd

During the summer season, people tend to increase the intake of cold and refreshing dishes because of the increasing temperature. Here are a few benefits of eating curd during the summer season mentioned below:

Helps in Improving Digestion

The good bacteria that are present in curd help in improving our digestive system. Curd can help in providing comfort from problems like gas, acidity, bloating , stomach ulcers and constipation due to its probiotic content. Due to this reason, it is often suggested to add a bowl of curd with your lunch.

Prevents Dehydration

Curds contain a good amount of water and electrolytes in them, as a result of which they can help in balancing fluid content in our bodies and thus provide hydration to the body, which is a necessity during the summer season .

Boosts Body Immunity

The presence of probiotics in the curd is very helpful in building good bacteria, which results in making our immune system stronger and thus prevents our body from illness.

Improves Bone Health

Curd, being a rich source of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, is very beneficial for our bone health, as both of these nutrients play an important role in improving bone density and thereby also make our teeth strong.

Reduces inflammation

The body's natural response to an illness or damage is inflammation. Curd's anti-inflammatory qualities may aid in lowering the body's level of inflammation. However, a number of illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and arthritis, can be brought on by persistent inflammation. Regular curd consumption can aid in lowering inflammation and averting certain health issues.

Help in Managing Weight

Curd is very helpful for those who are trying to lose weight because it is very light and has a low caloric content. Curd keeps the stomach full for a longer period of time and prevents overeating. The presence of probiotics in the curd helps in boosting immunity and also improves digestion, due to which it proves to be helpful in the weight loss process.

Makes Skin Healthy And Glowy

During the summer season, our skin feels dull and irritated due to the heat; curd, being a rich source of lactic acid, when applied to skin, can make our skin feel refreshed and cool. Curd, when mixed with turmeric and gram flour and applied, can help in removing tanning, make skin glowy, and help in the reduction of dark spots.

Culinary Versatility of Curd in Summer

As curd has cooling properties and a light texture, it becomes a favourite of every Indian in summer. No doubt it has lots of health benefits, but it also has incredible versatility in the kitchen. It can easily be used in various kinds of dishes which are easy to prepare and make our body stay cool and hydrated in the scorching heat of summer. Some of the dishes are given below:

Raita

Raita is one of the most demanded and beloved summer recipes. We can have different types of raitas, such as vegetable raita Made with chopped vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, or onions with roasted cumin powder and salt , another is pineapple raita, which includes pieces of pineapple and is sweet in flavour. Raita helps in digestion, supports gut health and enhances the taste of food.

Lassi

Lassi is another summer drink mainly considered a Punjabi traditional drink made with blending curd, water and sugar. You can also add salt and spices instead of sugar for making it a salty lassi. Lassi is served chilled, as it replenishes energy and makes our body cool and hydrated. It is a good alternative for artificial soft drinks and sodas.

Curd Salad

Salads, which are already a cooling dish taken with meals, how about if we add curd to it? Extra cooling, right? Yes, curd can be used in the salad recipes, either mixed or as a dressing. You can use it with a bowl of seasonal vegetables, mix curd into it, and add some herbs and lemon juice for dressing. It’s best to have it with heavy foods in summer.

Curd Rice

Curd rice is the simple dish for summers made by mixing cooked or boiled rice with fresh curd and some seasoning. It is very soothing and light for our stomach, and it also provided a perfect balance of carbs and probiotics, which is good for gut health. It is mostly eaten in the southern part of India, where the temperature goes very high, so it helps protect our bodies from dehydration and heatstroke and helps regulate body temperature. When you combine rice and curd, it becomes a proper meal which fulfils the need of your appetite. You can season it with curry leaves and green chillies to enhance flavour and boost digestion.

Nutritional Value of Curd

The nutritional values found in 100g of curd are as follows:

60 calories

3 grams of carbs

3.1 grams of protein

149 milligrams of calcium

93 milligrams of phosphorus

0.2 milligrams of iron

4 grams of fat and

1 milligram of vitamin C

Side Effects of Curd

Although curd helps people lose weight, consuming it too often might lead to obesity. People should be mindful of their weekly food intake. Curds can be hefty for some people, which can lead to constipation. Only excessive intake causes the problem.

● Curds are beneficial for teeth and bones, but people with arthritis shouldn't eat them often. It exacerbates joint pain.

● People who have asthma, colds, coughs, or other respiratory disorders should avoid eating curd at night since it promotes mucus production.

● People who are lactose intolerant can digest curd but not milk. However, you may still want to watch how much curd you eat.

Curd is a nutritious food with many health benefits, especially in the summer. It improves digestion, boosts immunity, helps regulate weight, fortifies bones, reduces inflammation, promotes healthy skin, and eases stress and anxiety. To battle the terrible heat and calm the body, a bowl of ordinary curd or curd-based drinks like buttermilk and lassi are perfect. Enjoy the various health benefits of curd this summer by including it in your diet if you haven't previously.