Top 10 Health Benefits & Uses of Yogurt (Curd/Dahi)

Yogurt is also known as “Dahi” or “Curd” in India, it is a traditionally fermented dairy product obtained by process of pasteurization or by souring boiled milk with natural microflora or harmless lactic or other bacterial culture.

It has been of great importance in the Indian subcontinent since ancient times, due to the numerous benefits of (Dahi) curd. It is a dairy product that has been used in a ritual ceremony which is known as “Panchamrita“(a mixture of five foods) which is generally distributed as prasad at the end of the pooja.

Dahi is a popular product of milk that is consumed either in the main course of the meal, a refreshing drink, or dessert. It is generally consumed in its original form like food or accompanied by converting into yogurt sauce mixed (raita ) with grated cucumber, chopped boiled potatoes

Besides this it is also used in fried dough pieces gram flour or pulsed based Vadas such as  “Dahi vada” is a famous dish. Dahi can also be consumed as a sweet drink or salty lassi or as a dessert containing sugar, fresh banana cut into cubes, orange slices, chunks of mango, and other seasonal fruits.

Ayurvedic view

According to Ayurveda text yogurt (Dahi/ curd) is described as sour in taste, Dahi made from cow’s milk is considered to be the best with nutrients value. In general, Dahi decreases Vata dosha, and increases Pitta and Kapha, it is considered to be best for Vata type.

Yogurt is considered to be the only “fermented” food recognized as sattvic in Ayurveda. Ayurveda recommends that yogurt should be prepared every day for eating and to be consumed the same day.

Yogurt is easy to digest than milk, while milk takes about 3 hours to digest; fresh yogurt takes only an hour. In Ayurveda, Dahi has been used for curing various ailments such as dyspepsia, dysentery, and other gastrointestinal disorders.

It also improves appetite and stimulates B and T cells of macrophages by lactic acid bacteria which are responsible to produce antibodies. It is a pack of readily available food of all nutrients and also alleviates bone problems so it is a good way to eat predigested food.

Ayurvedic Properties Of Curd/Dahi

• Amla rasa: It is sour in taste
• Grahi: Absorbent, useful in diarrhea
• Amla Paka: undergoes sour taste conversion after digestion
• Guru: Heavy to digest
• Ushna: Hot in nature
• Vatajit: Balances Vata
• Increases Shukra: Semen
• Rochishnu: Increases taste
• Increases Bala: Strength
• Increases Meda: Fat
• Helpful in Raktapitta: Bleeding disorders

Ayurvedic Benefits Of Curd/Dahi

• Rochana: Improves taste, appetizer
• Deepana: Improves digestive system
• Balavardhana: Improves immunity system
• Brumhana: improves nourishment
• Aruchi: Anorexia, lack of interest in food
• Vrushya: aphrodisiac
• Snehana: imparts oiliness
• Mangalya: Auspicious

Ayurvedic Uses Of Curd/Dahi

• Atisara: diarrhea
• Pinasa: Rhinitis
• Sheetaka: Fever with cold
• Vishamajwara: Irregular fever
• Mutrakrichra: Dysuria, having difficulty passing urine
• Karshya: Nutritional disorder

Health benefits of Curd/Dahi

You might have heard of many different superfoods that can boost overall health. Yogurt is one of these great foods; you should try to eat regularly. It is because curd (yogurt) has essential elements like Vitamin A, vitamin B-12, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and Protein, which provide lots of health benefits.

Curd also provides your body probiotics that can help to cope with several different diseases. There are many curd benefits, such as it helps in stress, anxiety, loss of weight, dandruff, teeth, bones, heart care, digestion, acne, acidity, piles, etc.

So if you are looking for a completely healthy diet food yogurt is a perfect choice. Below are some curd benefits, seeing all the benefits you will definitely include yogurt in your diet.

1. Best Immunity Booster

Yogurt has lactic acid bacteria that enhance B and T cells which build up our body’s immunity system. It is believed that if your immunity system is good it can protect you from more than 100 common diseases.

Some studies reveal that consuming two cups of yogurt daily for four months can increase the immunity capacity in the blood by five times as compared to not eating. Yogurt also works as an aphrodisiac and is beneficial for those women having a vaginal yeast infection.

2. Improves Sexual Health

Eating yogurt can help people to cope with sexual problems, such as sexual impotence, decreased libido health, etc. You should eat yogurt with sugar before each meal to get the best benefits. Yogurt also works as an aphrodisiac and offers various benefits related to sexual health.

The study carried out by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on 40 male and 40 female mice, in which a group of mice was given junk food high in fat and others were given vanilla-flavored yogurt. At the end of the study, it was found that the testicles of the mice were five percent heavier compared to the standard diet group.

3. Removes Dandruff

Yogurt is the best way to cope with dandruff; it is also one of the best home remedies to get rid of dandruff. Yogurt has properties such as proteins and vitamin B5 that are beneficial for the hair.

The content of protein present in the yogurt helps to strengthen and moisturize hair and removes annoying dandruff. A rich creamy yogurt consisting of lactic acid, it is an antibacterial property that reduces irritation and itching of the scalp providing sufficient relief.

Spread a thick layer of whipped yogurt, massage on the hair follicles to the end, allow the yogurt to rest for an hour, clean with a mild shampoo and warm water. This will help to combat dandruff in cleaning and tightening the pores of the scalp will make your hair grow healthy.

4. Improves Skin Tone

Yogurt is an effective and cheapest way to enhance the beauty of skincare, it is a popular home remedy. It can be the safest product to use for the skin as it is prepared by a simple method of bacterial fermentation of milk.

Yogurt has important minerals like zinc, vitamin E, phosphorous, etc that can assists to decrease stains, as well as treating acne problems. The Lactic acid present in the yogurt provides a soothing and moisturizing effect on the skin, making the skin soft and nourished.

It is also the best remedy for sunburn, it can be applied to reduce pain and redness in the affected area. Applying 4-5 applications of yogurt daily on sunburns can give you the best results, it is due to Lactic Acid in yogurt, it is said to have properties that can dissolve the dead skin cells.

5. Healthy Heart

Due to inoperative lifestyle patterns more and more people are suffering from various diseases, coronary heart disease is one of them. Consuming yogurt can be great in maintaining heart health as it has calcium and vitamin D, which is responsible for the strengthening of bones, and protein in it can help to build muscle.

Yogurt stops the creation of cholesterol in the arterial region, thus it prevents the person from hypertension and high blood pressure. So consuming yogurt can helps to minimize the risk of high blood pressure and can control the level of cholesterol in the body.

A study was performed on the people who consumed yogurt and with nonconsumers, it was found that people who ate more yogurt, were less tempted to eat processed meat, refined grains they also ate more fruits,  nuts, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy foods besides non-eaters.

Therefore they had higher levels of vitamins B2,  B12, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and other micronutrients than non-eater.

6. Lose Weight

Yogurt is high in vitamins and minerals; the mineral calcium prevents the formation of cortisol in the body. Experts do claim that yogurt and weight loss have to do with calcium, some scientists hypothesize, may affect appetite in people with low calcium intake.

They also claim that when there is a lack of calcium in the body, the brain senses and promotes food intake. So consuming more calcium through yogurt can prevent this from happening.

A study published in the “International Journal of Obesity” stated that people who were eating the average quantity of 1,100 mg of yogurt observed both weight loss and loss of belly fat compared to a control diet.

7. KeepsTeeth Healthy

Yogurt is believed to be a super dental food as it has ample source of calcium and phosphorus, both calcium and phosphorus are believed to be important minerals for making strong bones and teeth.

Regular consumption of yogurt can also help to prevent different problems such as arthritis and osteoporosis. Now a day’s yogurt has become more popular than ever due to its various health benefits, those looking for a healthy supplement can include it in their diet or food, which can be the best option for overall health.

A Japanese study on 1,000 adults stated that for people who eat yogurt daily, their gums were healthier than those who ate less or not. It is due to the “Probiotics” a good bacteria found in yogurt are the possible reason for these active cultures that can help to reduce the growth of bacteria that cause cavities.

8. Improve Digestion

Our digestive tract contains certain bacteria that are important for our metabolic functions and supporting digestion, they produce essential nutrients that are useful for our digestive system. Keeping these bacteria in balance is essential for good health.

Curd is probiotics fermented dairy product that contains these beneficial bacteria which can help our digestive system to function properly. Probiotics yogurt contains a variety of live active cultures bacteria that can aid in digestion; bacteria called “Lactobacillus acidophilus” are responsible for the digestion in the small intestine.

The bacteria “Lactobacillus acidophilus” also produce vitamin K, which is a fat-soluble vitamin that aids blood clotting or coagulating. So eating yogurt can be a good idea to solve many stomach problems and it can also provide relief who are suffering from dysentery.

9. Reduce Stress

It is very difficult to stay stress-free in this highly competitive world of today, being depressed can have negative effects on our overall health. You may find it strange and hard to believe but it is true the bacteria in the intestine are also responsible for contributing to stress.

Research has shown that brain signals to the intestines, which is why stress aggravates gastrointestinal symptoms; communication may flow to the other path from the stomach to the brain causing stress.

A UCLA study in 2013 among 36 healthy women showed that consumption of probiotics yogurt reduced brain activity in areas responsible for emotion, including stress compared to people who ate yogurt without probiotics or no yogurt at all.

More research is needed to confirm the results, but eating yogurt can be a good choice as it is full of calcium, protein, plus probiotics properties can really add benefits to health by eating it.

10. Keep Baby Healthy

Yogurt is a delicious food produced by the bacterial fermentation of milk. Yogurt made from Cow’s milk can be the best for the baby. Now a day’s yogurt that is available in the market is made of milk from water buffalo, goats, sheep, and even camels are used.

It can be a delicious and healthy first food for a baby as it is full of calcium, which is needed for strong bones. Yogurt also contains an impressive amount of vitamins and minerals that can be good for the baby. Because of the baby’s growing process, the protein can be easily digested by the young stomach.

Note: Doctors believe that yogurt may be introduced to babies as early as 6 months of age. Giving yogurt to the baby may sometimes cause an allergic reaction in babies, it is found generally with those who have a milk allergy.

It is generally found that milk allergies occur in about 2 to 3 percent of all children. The Symptoms may vary from child to child such as swelling and skin rashes, diarrhea, irritability, vomiting, etc.

Eat a serving of yogurt can be a great addition to your diet. This can help to strengthen bones; promote a healthy digestive system, helps you to effortlessly lose weight, belly fat and many more health benefits. So if you are looking for nutritious food be sure to remember yogurt.