Curd is a very beneficial food item, especially for those who don’t like drinking milk. It contains all the goodness of milk, plus it has good bacteria in it which help in. As a cause of our errant food habits, our stomach often loses its balance of beneficial bacteria, and having curd regularly helps maintaining that balance, therefore keeping the digestive system healthy. It also provides calcium for keeping the bones and teeth in good physical shape.
Then why has it been said that curd should be avoided at night? The reason goes back 2000 years, to the inception of Ayurveda. According to ayurveda, curd is a food which is extremely sour, increases fat in the body and is difficult to digest. It also increases kapha, or mucus production, which is already at peak in the night, and hence curd at night should be avoided. Now, all these premises were true at that time and age, and have been invalided in today’s time. In the age of ayurveda, only full fat cow’s milk was used, skimming was not an option, and moreover, fridges had not been invented. So the curd, usually prepared in the mornings, was very rich and fatty, and in absence of refrigeration, used to go sour by the night. However, today’s scenario is completely different. Today we use toned and skimmed milk, which have a far lower fat index than full fat milk. And of course, we have refrigeration, so there is no chance of the curd going sour by the end of the day.
Therefore, avoiding curd at night is only a myth. Eating curd actually speeds up and aids digestion, and also helps in the catabolic processes of the body. However, people prone to or suffering from cough are recommended to abstain from curd, as it actually boosts mucus production and will be harmful for their health.
Otherwise, if you are a curd lover, go ahead and include this delicious supplement to your food in the form of curd rice, buttermilk, lassi, kadhi and raita and pave your way to a happy gut.