The creamy, slightly sour, curd has been a part of our diet and of our ancestors since the Vedic times. People across India consume curd post meal or as part of meal for boosting their digestive health and immunity. From curd rice, raita, dahi-cheeni to yoghurt, there are many ways of consuming this milk product.
A powerhouse of riboflavin, vitamin A, B6, B12, and pantothenic acid, curd also has lactic acid which helps in the absorption of nutrients..
1) PROBIOTIC SUPERFOOD THAT IMPROVES DIGESTION.-Curd or yogurt is a probiotic that is formed after the fermentation of milk. It contains the bacterial strain- Lactobacillus which helps promote good bacteria in the gut and aids digestion.
2) A LOW-CALORIE FOOD MADE OF 81% WATER-Curd or yogurt is mostly composed of water. A 100 g of it gives 59 calories only!
3) ZERO SUGAR AND TRANS FATS-Natural curd contains no sugar and no trans fats, both of these contribute greatly to unhealthy weight gain.
4) REDUCES WATER WEIGHT-1 cup (approx. 245 g) of curd provides 380 mg potassium. Potassium helps the body get rid of water retention in the body. Potassium is also helpful to reduce high blood pressure levels.
5) EXCELLENT PROTEIN SOURCE-We mostly consider milk, paneer or tofu as viable vegetarian sources of protein. But do you know curd is an excellent protein source as well? In fact, it contains slightly more amount of protein than milk! Protein helps increase satiety and keep the tummy full for long, thus managing unnecessary hunger pangs.
As mentioned in the Research Paper titled “Impact of yogurt on appetite control, energy balance, and body composition”, A. Tremblay, C. Doyon, M. Sanchez, it was observed that consuming yogurt leads to
• reduction in body fat
• improvement in satiety
• decrease in Glycemic and insulin response
• change in gut hormone response and a positive change in gut flora
HOW TO CONSUME CURD FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
• Fruit or vegetable raitas
• Homemade Masala chhachh
• Homemade sweet lassi
• Fruit Smoothies
• Curd rice
• Homemade tadka curd
• Kuttu/besan curries without pakoras
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO EAT CURD FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
You can take curd in breakfast, major meals and even as midmeals to aid the fat burning process. If you are taking curd at night make sure you consume it 2-3 hours before going to bed.
PRO TIP
1) Avoid consuming artificially flavoured Greek yogurts as they contain a high amount of sugar (levels are upto dangerous amounts).
2) If someone is having sinus, refrain from consuming curd at night.