Thanks to our Chemistry lessons, we all know how dahi is made, even though some of us might not have made it at home. But, what these lessons did not teach us were the amazing benefits a bowl of dahi can give us especially during the unbearable summer heat.
Dahi or curd is made through fermentation process. When a spoonful of prepared dahi is added to lukewarm milk and allowed to set for few hours or overnight, the lactic bacteria multiplies and then end result is some nice and good dahi. Dahi has very high nutritional content and this is one of the reasons it is extremely good for our body.
1. High Nutritional Content
Dahi is packed with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12 and potassium. Calcium helps in strengthening bones and teeth, magnesium regulates blood sugar levels, provides relief from PMS symptoms and has anti-inflammatory properties.
2. Aids in Digestion
Dahi has a high amount of probiotics present which are known to boost the digestive system and maintain good gut health. It is for this reason many people include dahi in their diet either in the form of raita or chaach (buttermilk). Chilled dahi works great to ease acidity.
3. Good for skin and hair
Nutrients like zinc, Vitamin C and calcium present in curd help in providing nourishment to your skin. Curd helps in moisturizing the skin and works great for dry and itchy scalp. You can either consume dahi or add it to your hair/face masks to get the most of the benefits of this amazing milk product.
4. Helps in weight management
High amount of calcium present in dahi helps in keeping a check on the BMI level. Improved digestion because of curd boosts the metabolism, which is pre-requisite for weight management. Curd is also rich in proteins, which gives the feeling of being full for longer. Not only that, curd also prevents the accumulation of cortisol, which causes obesity and hypertension.
5. Improves immunity
Presence of good bacteria boosts immunity and helps in fighting day-to-day airborne diseases. Consuming curd also inhibits the growth of yeast infection, hence, preventing vaginal infections in women. The cooling effect of curd also provides relief from the burning sensation during Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).
6. Acts as a stress buster
The anti-oxidants, probiotics and good fats present in curd help in dealing with stress. Maybe for this reason Indian moms make us eat dahi-cheeni (curd sweetened with sugar) before any major work.