Curd

Curd:

Curd which is also known as yogurt is the most valuable therapeutic food. Curds are a dairy product obtained by curdling (coagulating) milk with rennet or an edible acidic substance such as lemon juice or vinegar, and then draining off the liquid portion. The increased acidity causes the milk proteins (casein) to tangle into solid masses, or curds. The remaining liquid, which contains only whey proteins, is the whey. In cow's milk, 80% of the proteins are caseins. Milk that has been left to sour (raw milk alone or pasteurized milk with added lactic acid bacteria or yeast) will also naturally produce curds, and sour milk cheese is produced this way.

Cultural Beliefs:

These are some of the superstitions which are considered as good omen. Eating sweet curd before exams brings good luck. We should take curd at night as curd is having sour mixed sweet property and it increases Kapha dosha in the body. The mucus generation is also attributed to the effect of Kapha. During night period, there is natural predominance of Kapha in the body. So, curd consumption at night will further increase kapha leading to many complications. Curd is larger and heavier to digest and tend to create more incomplete products of digestion at night than midday when the digestive fires are naturally stronger.

Scientific Reasons:

Curd is nutritious. It contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, fluoride and selenium, as well as saturated fats, and oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat. The pro-biotic components of Curd produced by lactic acid bacteria relieve constipation, diarrhoea, colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. It is also known to prevent any infection caused by the H. pylori bacteria. Studies reveal that regular consumption of Curd can drop the LDL cholesterol levels and thereby, preventing any chance of cardiovascular diseases.

Curd is rich in calcium so it is beneficial for strong bones and teeth. Curd is very helpful in curing illness like jaundice. Many surveys results that curd is helpful in reducing the risk of high blood pressure. Curd is valuable for the patients of insomnia. Patient is suggested to take curd and massage it to their head will result to induce sleep. Take a sufficient amount of curd to your diet this will prevent you premature old age and decay. Curd could prove beneficial for the patients of osteoporosis if having daily. People suffering from vaginal infection can found the easy way to have relief if they intake curd. Curd could prove beneficial for the patients of constipation and colon cancer.

Apart from health claims and maintenance of intestinal microflora, they protect against infections, alleviate lactose intolerance, reduce blood cholesterol levels and also stimulate the immune system. The interactive research between physiology, microbiology, food technology and molecular biology followed by clinical trials may produce a multi-functional probiotic strain for human consumption.

Nutritional Value & Calories Amount: 1 cup Weight: 245 g

Nutrients	Amount
Basic Components
Proteins	8.5 g
Water	215 g
Ash	1.8 g
Cholesterol	31.9 mg
Calories
Total Calories	149
Calories From Carbohydrates	44
Calories From Fats	70
Calories From Proteins	36
Carbohydrates
Total Carbohydrates	11 g
Sugar	11g
Fats & Fatty Acids
Total Fat	8 g
Saturated Fat	5.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat	2.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	225 mg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	66 mg
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	159 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin A	243 IU
Vitamin C	1.2 mg
Vitamin E	147 mcg
Vitamin K	0.49 mcg
Thiamin	71 mcg
Riboflavin	348 mcg
Niacin	184 mcg
Vitamin B6	78 mcg
Folate	17 mcg
Vitamin B12	0.91 mcg
Pantothenic Acid	0.95 mg
Choline	37.2 mg
Minerals
Calcium	296 mg
Iron	123 mcg
Magnesium	29 mg
Phosphorus	233 mg
Potassium	380 mg
Sodium	113 mg
Zinc	1.4 mg
Copper	22 mcg
Manganese	9.8 mcg
Selenium	5.4 mcg
Fluoride	29 mcg

Medicinal properties as explained in Ayurveda
It absorbs water from intestines (hence called as Grahi). By the virtue of this property it is widely used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.
It causes heaviness when used in excess and may cause constipation.
It mitigates vata dosha, increases kapha and pitta. Curd should not be used in diseases where blood is vitiated by doshas.
Regular consumption of this in pure form increases body fat and may cause obesity.
Curd helps to increase quality and quantity of semen.
It strengthens the body.
Consumption of curd accelerates digestion (agni), stimulates taste buds and acts as an appetizer.
It is found beneficial in diseases of duodenum.
It reduces irritability of bladder and helps in emptying bladder easily.

Benefits:

Beauty:

• Dandruff is a known cause of hair loss. Mix sour curd and green gram as a pack and apply to scalp and hair, Wash it off after 1 hour. Doing this once in a week prevents formation of dandruff. Curd is a good hair conditioner.
• Dry orange peel in summer and powder it. Mix this powder with little curds massage it on face and neck. This acts as an excellent cleanser and cleanses clogged pores thus preventing acne and pimples.
• Curds when mixed with sugar acts as an excellent body coolant and instant energizer. It also quenches thirst.
• A mixture of besan (gram flour) is an excellent face pack to rejuvenate facial skin and body skin.

Health:

• Helps improve the digestion
• Helps strengthen the immune system
• Consuming curd increases the capacity to absorb the nutrients and minerals form other food stuffs
• Especially helpful for those who are lactose intolerant
• Helps get strong bones and teeth as its calcium content is high. It helps fight against osteoporosis.
• Helps minimize the risk of high blood pressure
• If you have high cholesterol, and then consuming curd can help you
• Curd cures migraine and the biotin, a vitamin present in the curd is very important for mental health.

Home remedies:

• Regular consumption of curd reduces the incidence of osteoporosis in menopausal women as it contains several essential minerals
• Curd is good for the nerves and maintains fluid balance in the body as it a good source of potassium and magnesium
• For people who are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk, Curd is a great alternative for them in providing health benefits of dairy products. This dairy product contains active bacterial strains, which help in digestion. 
• The calcium in Curd signals fat cells to pump out less cortisol thereby making it easier to lose weight, while the amino acids aid in the fat burning process.
• Curd, when applied topically, can effectively cure acne and skin rashes. It also provides a beautiful glow since it reduces dark circles and closes pores. Furthermore, it is also a valuable remedy for poor hair, itchy scalp, and dandruff.

Interesting Facts:

• Curd should not be eaten at nights.
• It should not be boiled or heated.
• Always it has to be mixed with honey or sugar before consuming.
• Its properties get enhanced when mixed with cooked green gram or ghee or gooseberries
• Curd should be used only when it is well formed or completely coagulated.
• Consumption of incompletely coagulated curd may flare up herpes outbreaks, psoriasis, bleeding in hemorrhoids etc. and may cause giddiness.
• Curd acidifies the blood as it contains high amount of proteins. The body buffers the acidity through bone restoration; calcium is removed from the skeleton and bones and released to the blood, increasing risk of osteoporosis. Curd also has high sodium content.