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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
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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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