Weekend Plus Desk :
Are you always confused about curd and yogurt? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone here, a lot of us wonder what is so different about both of them. Which is more nutritious and what should we pick from the innumerable varieties available in the market? These are some of the common questions that often cross our mind whenever we hear about these widely consumed dairy products.
All the fuss about yogurt and curd is created mainly by advertisements and brand promotions. To begin with, we can say that curd and yogurt differ by a thin line. A little alteration is done in the method of preparation which gives birth to two different varieties of fermented food. What curd is to us, yogurt is to the other side of the globe? In today’s article, let’s find out which one is the healthiest.
Formation of yogurt
In simple terms, yogurt is basically an industrial version of the local curd or dohi. It is made using active bacterial cultures that converts sugar into lactic acid. You need to introduce strands of bacteria namely lactobacillus bulgaris or streptococcus thermophilus in the milk which will help in the fermentation process.
The benefit of yogurt
Yogurt is dominating the market by influencing fitness freaks. Yogurt, especially, the greek yogurt is the powerhouse of protein that helps in building and improving your core muscle strength. It is extremely beneficial for people who want to shed some extra inches. Due to the presence of plenty of healthy bacteria, daily consumption of yogurt will boost your immunity and keep diseases at bay. Yogurt has hints of good fat that helps in keeping your heart healthy. The curbs present in yogurt is sugar in the form of lactose, therefore always opt for a sugar-free variant of Greek yogurt to get its maximum benefits. Also, the biggest advantage of yogurt over curd is that it can be consumed by people who are lactose intolerant. As the lactose present in the milk gets converted into lactic acid and thus, can be easily digested by your system.
Formation of curd
Curd is a staple in Indian households. Local dohi completes any meal and that’s the reason you must have seen your mothers and grandmothers preserving the leftover curd to form new. It is prepared by stirring the remains of curd with warm milk. The process of curdling requires a hint of an acidic substance such as lemon or vinegar that helps in the growth of healthy live bacteria which over a certain period completes the fermentation process.
Health benefits of curd
Curd is known to keep your tummy cool, neutralize the heat produced by certain foods and spices. Due to its cooling nature, curd prevents the formation of pimples and bumps. Our digestive system absorbs the nutrients such as calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin B6 present in curd efficiently. Consumption of curd is recommended for people with digestive issues. Due to the presence of healthy gut bacteria, curd prevents basic stomach ailments such as indigestion, constipation, and acidity. It has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that prevent allergies. The only difference in the health benefits of both of these dairy foods is that Greek yogurt contains double the amount of protein than curd. Therefore, people who are into weight loss are more inclined towards plain Greek yogurt to fulfill their daily protein needs.
In the battle of curd VS yogurt, both are the winners. Our body requires the nutrients present in the dairy products for holistic development of the system.
The presence of live bacteria in both yogurt and curd makes for a win-win situation. Apart from that, if you are lactose intolerant and also are strictly into weight loss then you can choose unflavoured Greek yogurt over the curd, otherwise, both these probiotic foods should be included for a balanced diet. n
