Uses of curd/yogurt

Uses of curd or yogurt 

Yogurt or curd comes from milk and therefore, it is loaded with several essential and good nutrients like calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium. Curd is a cool, light, and nutritious food mostly used in summer to keep the body healthy.

The super advantage of having yogurt is that it is light on the stomach and easier to digest than milk.

Curd is a powerhouse of protein and also rich in calcium.

A bowl of yogurt or curd is said to have 300 grams of calcium. Having yogurt will not only maintain your bone density but also strengthen them. For elderly people who are at risk of osteoporosis, a cup of yogurt or curd daily after lunch is a good option.

Approximately ¾ cup – provides your body with 100-150 calories, 2g of saturated fat, 20g of sugar, 3.5g of fat, and about 8-10g of protein. Yogurt also provides your body with about 20 percent of your daily vitamin D portion with 20 percent of your daily calcium value.

Nutritional Value of curd

 100 grams of curd contains:

·        11 grams of protein

·        364 mg of sodium

·        104 mg of potassium

·        About 98 calories

·        Around 3.4 grams of carbohydrate

·        Approximately 4.3 grams of fat

·        Apart from that, curd also offers calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, D, and B-12 as well.

1. IT IMPROVES DIGESTION

One of best health benefit of curd is that it helps improve your digestion, which is mainly due to the nutrients available in the curd. Eating curd or yogurt will make it easier for your body to absorb nutrients from other food items that you eat.

Yogurt or curd is a great probiotic. Probiotic is an ingredient that contains good bacteria. These good and beneficial bacteria present in curd are known to improve gut activity, soothe inflamed digestive systems, and treat an upset stomach.

  2. IT BOOST IMMUNITY

The good bacteria are also known as probiotics present in curd can strengthen your immune system and ensure that you enjoy better health. Eating curd daily has also been linked to fewer vaginal infections.

 3. IT IMPROVES YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH

Consuming yogurt or curd daily will reduce risks of coronary heart diseases because it discourages the formation of cholesterol in your arterial region. It also shows that eating yogurt will prevent hypertension and promote better cardiovascular health.

4. IT STRENGTHENS BONES AND TEETH

Another health benefit of curd is it contains calcium, which plays a huge role in strengthening your bones and teeth. Curd also contains phosphorous that combines with calcium to promote bone growth. Eating curd regularly will help prevent diseases like osteoporosis and arthritis.

 Daily intake of calcium not only helps in maintaining bone density but also strengthens them.

5. IT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT

The presence of calcium available in yogurt can prevent the formation of cortisol in your body. An imbalance of cortisol in the body can lead to issues like obesity and hypertension. Aim to eat at least 18 ounces of curd daily to shed some belly fat.

A recent study conducted on people consuming yogurt helps you cut down calories. This also helps burn belly fat.

6. IT IMPROVES YOUR SKIN HEALTH

Curd helps to enhance your beauty and get glowing skin. Curd has a moisturizing effect on your skin and it heals your dry skin naturally. Curd or yogurt contains several minerals like vitamin E, zinc, and phosphorous, which play a major role in improving your complexion and skin texture. A pack of gram flour, curd, and lemon and honey will give you soft glowing skin.

Yogurt acts as a great exfoliator that removes all dead cells and blemishes on the face.

 Some people suffer from acne due to certain gastrointestinal problems and curd helps in marinating a happy gut which leads to healthy skin.

7. CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE

Salt is one of the main culprits behind high blood pressure and leads to serious health complications such as hypertension and kidney disease. The potassium present in curd helps eradicate excess of sodium from our bodies. A recent study suggested that low-fat dairy helped them keep BP issues at bay.

 The special proteins present in yogurt along with nutrients like potassium and magnesium help in lowering high blood pressure and promoting a healthy heart.

8. PREVENTS VAGINAL INFECTIONS

Yogurt is especially good for women as it helps in discouraging the growth of yeast infections. The lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria found in yogurt or curd is known to control the growth of infection in the body and kill the yeast by kills by producing hydrogen peroxide.  If you are prone to such infections, it's best to add yogurt in your diet.

9. IT CAN ELIMINATE DANDRUFF

Curd is the best ingredient which helps to get rid of dandruff.  Dandruff is basically a fungal infection. Curd consists of lactic acid which has anti-fungal properties. Apply some curd to your scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes to one hour. Wash it off with water to remove dandruff.

Eating curd regularly can also improve the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods in your body and keeps you healthy.

10. EFFECTIVE HAIRCARE

People having dry hair, dull hair, dandruff, and other problems can use curd. The lactic acid present in curd or yogurt provides nutrients and minerals to the scalp, which reduces dandruff.  Curd acts as a conditioner to improve hair softness.

Curd is also used as the best ingredient in hair packs.

11. ENSURES BRAIN HEALTH

According to some research studies, curd offers relaxation and emotional balance to the brain. yogurt reduces the stress level and helps to fight anxieties and depression. All these effects make it a reliable and good remedy for brain health.

12. KEEPS INFECTIONS AWAY

Several oral diseases are caused by bacteria. However, the good bacteria available in curd doesn’t allow other bacteria to accumulate and cause the infections and helps to prevent infections.

Side-Effects & Allergies of curd

 People should be careful with the quantity of curd or yogurt they consume each week. Curds can be heavy for some people, which can also lead to constipation. The problem only occurs with heavy intake only.

Conclusion

Curd or yogurt is a superfood with many nutrients and minerals. It is good for bone health because it is rich in calcium.

Add some amount of curd in your diet daily to get its benefits and also include curd in hair and face packs to get healthy glowing skin and hair.