Naturalhomeremedies.co Sept 2011 Issue # 6

Aarogya for life is but life when blessed with health

In this Issue:

All about curd

Health benefits of curd

Spicy Lassi

What is probiotic?

ALL ABOUT CURD

Curd and yogurt are both dairy products, but

typically, yogurt refers to the fermentation of milk in

anaerobic conditions. In the US and Europe, curd is a

diary product produced by transforming milk into a

solid mass by adding acidic substances like lemon

juice or vinegar. The whey that is produced, is

drained from the curd. In India this is called paneer

or cottage cheese, and what we call curd is when

warm milk is allowed to ferment by adding a spoon

of yogurt to the milk. The milk is then kept aside till it

sets. You could call it a home made version of the

yogurt, which includes a little bit of whey, which

yogurt doesn't have. The terms curd/curds/yogurt

are interchangeably used, and curd is mostly made

from buffalo milk.

The first curd was believed to have been made in

Turkey. Legend has it that a nomad while travelling

through a desert, kept some milk away in a goat skin

bag and hung it across the back of his camel. On

opening the bag a few hours later, he found that the

liquid had turned into a thick tangy custard. The

desert sun and bacteria inside the bag produced

the required condition for the preparation of

yogurt.

Curd is a very nourishing food. It is a valuable

source of protein, essential vitamins and minerals, a

rich source of calcium and riboflavin. It is also a

good source of iodine, zinc, potassium and B12. The

protein in curd is more readily digested than the

protein in milk. These beneficial bacteria aid in the

absorption of minerals and synthesis of vitamins of

the B group.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGURT

GOOD FOR THE SKIN

Curd makes your skin healthy and glowing. Curd

mixed with lemon juice is a good face cleanser. A

Naturalhomeremedies.co Sept 2011 Issue # 6

mixture of oatmeal and curd makes the skin softer

and helps to remove tan. A paste of bengal gram

flour and curd applied on the face helps to prevent

and cure pimples. The use of buttermilk is highly

beneficial in the treatment of skin disorders like

psoriasis and eczema. the application of buttermilk

compresses is useful in these conditions. The

compress is also very effective in case of skin

inflammation.

GOOD FOR THE HAIR

Curd is very useful in conditioning hair. It makes the

hair soft, healthy and strong. It should be applied to

the roots of the hair. Massaging the hair with curd

that has turned sour, helps to remove dandruff.

GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISORDERS

During the process of making curd, bacteria convert

milk into curd and predigest milk protein. These

bacteria inhibit the growth of hostile bacteria inside

the intestinal tract and promote beneficial bacteria

needed for digestion. It is therefore, an ideal diet for

those with sensitive digestive systems. Curd brings

relief to patients with gastro-intestinal disorders such

as chronic constipation and diarrhoea. Besides aiding

in the digestion of food, curd decreases dryness and

gas in the stomach by helping in the secretion of

hydrochloric acid, pepsin and renin. Buttermilk has

been found to be beneficial in the treatment of

colitis, dysentry, gastric ulcer and chronic

appendicitis.

LONGEVITY

The live bacterial cultures in yogurt helps to fortify

the immune system. It builds resistance to immune

related diseases. A human study has confirmed that

a daily serving of probiotic-rich yogurt bolsters your

body's ability to protect you from infection. Daily

consumption of yogurt, both home made and

probiotic yogurt (yogurt containing health-

promoting bacteria), stimulated cellular immunity.

Cellular immunity is our immune system's first line

of defense, which serves as our body's primary

means of protection against infection by viruses,

yeasts, and parasites. Cellular immunity is also

critical in preventing the development of cancer. It

is believed that premature aging can be prevented

by taking sufficient curd in the daily diet.

ARTHRITIS

Lactobacillus, a probiotic (friendly) bacteria found in

yogurt offers "remarkable preventive and curative"

effects on arthritis, say Israeli researchers in a study

published in the Journal of Nutrition. In laboratory

experiments, animals fed with yogurt consisting

of large amounts of lactobacilli had the least

amount of arthritic inflammation, while those fed

plain yogurt experienced only moderate

inflammation. YEAST INFECTIONS

Eating yogurt may help to prevent vaginal yeast

infections. In one study, women who had frequent

Naturalhomeremedies.co Sept 2011 Issue # 6

yeast infections ate 8 ounces of yogurt daily for 6

months. Researchers reported that a threefold

decrease in infections was seen in these women.

In addition to all these benefits, a cup of curd a day is

also said to help improve your cholesterol profile.

Intake of calcium is said to help obese people lose

weight. Yogurt which is very rich in calcium helps in

losing weight.

SPICY LASSI

Lassi is a yogurt based drink very popular in the

Indian subcontinent. It is made by blending yogurt

with water and other spices. Another version of it is

the Chaas which is very popular in Gujarat and

Rajasthan. It's best when served chilled in hot

weather.

1 cup yogurt

1 cup water

½ inch ginger grated

1/2 a green chilli (optional)

A tbsp of corriander leaves

A few curry leaves

Salt to taste

Put all the ingredients in a processor and blend well.

Serve chilled. You can also use 2 glasses of buttermilk

instead. Butter milk is made by churning curd and

adding some water to it. You then remove the fat in

the form of butter.

SPICY LASSI

WHAT IS PROBIOTIC YOGURT

Probiotics are products derived from bacteria and

are considered to be good for the digestion. One

widely used definition is that probiotics are 'live

microorganisms, which, when administered in

adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the

host.'

Probiotics are in fact, naturally present in our gut

and have been recognised to be of benefit to our

well being. They help to maintain a balance

between the good and bad bacteria that live there.

All yogurt contain live bacteria, but not all bacteria

have probiotic properties. A culture of probiotics

called Bifidus Actiregularis helps to improve slower

digestive transit. It is said to prevent bloating.

Lactobacillus casei Shirota is said to play a role in

improving irritable bowel syndrome and modulating

immunity.

Probiotics safety has yet to be studied thoroughly

Naturalhomeremedies.co Sept 2011 Issue # 6

by the scientific community. Effects from one species

or strain of probiotics do not necessarily hold true for

others.

This newsletter is for information purposes

only. Please use the information in consultation

with your physician.

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