A few ‘Curd’ things – Know its Health and Beauty benefits

Curd has many health benefits. It’s a probiotic food, good for gut health. A traditional fermented food made from milk adding a bacterial culture, those who have lactose intolerance and milk allergy can also consume curd. Here, curd has upper hand over milk. People are significantly less-allergic to curd. Here, let’s talk a little more about curd.

How can we make curd at home?

There are difference methods by which we can make curd at home. It’s more healthy, nutritious and tasty too. When we buy curd from outside, its fat content will be removed. How can we make curd at home? Here are a few methods.

Boil half litre milk and keep stirring. After milk starts boiling, continue boiling for 5 more minutes. Keep stirring to avoid overflow and sticking to bottom. Let your milk cool. Take a big spoon of curd in a container or earthen pot, and add a little quantity of warm milk. Stir it well and pour remaining warm milk too. Close it with a lid and allow it to rest for 10 to 12 hours to get thick homemade curd. Use raw milk instead of packet milk to get better results.

We can also make curd without using curd. First boil the milk, and before it cools completely add 2 green chillies or red chillies along with the stem, close the lid and allow it to ferment.

Never use same curd again and again as culture (little quantity of curd added to ferment milk) to prepare curd next time. You can use new culture occasionally. Regularly change the container used to prepare curd. Earthen pot is the best.

For half litre milk, you can add a big spoon of milk powder before adding the culture/rennet. The curd will be thick. Also, more you boil milk, more water content will be evaporated and your curd will be thicker and tastier. You can also add a green chilli split into 2, along with its stem to make your curd thicker.

Beauty packs with curd

1. Take curd and tomato juice in equal quantities to prepare the pack. Apply it on your face and wash it off after 15 minutes. It reduces paleness of face and shrinks the pores.

2. Take one small spoon of orange skin powder and add a big spoon of curd. Mix them both and the prepare the pack. Apply this pack on your face and massage gently. Allow it to dry and then wash it off. It’s a good anti-aging pack which can reduce signs of aging.

3. Mix a big spoon of curd with a small spoon of oats, and allow it to rest for 2 minutes. Apply it on face and wash it off after 20 minutes. This pack can reduce pimples and remove dead cells.

4. Mix one big spoon of curd with a half big spoon of honey. Apply it on face and wash it off after 20 minutes. This pack is a good remedy for skin dryness. It turns skin soft. Your scars and marks will also fade.

Know the health benefits of curd

If you regularly consume curd, it has several health benefits.

1. Calcium present in curd is good for bones and teeth. It also includes vitamins needed for skin health.

2. Curd contains probiotics in abundance, which improves your digestion process and hence the gut health. When the gut health is improved, it helps in the better absorption of nutrients, thus improving the overall health of the person.

3. Consumption of curd can give relief to health problems like gas trouble and constipation.

4. It protects heart and balances blood pressure.

5. It improves the defense mechanism of the body.

6. It’s a good remedy for urinary infection in ladies. Include curd in your diet regularly.

7. Curd contains a lot of proteins, which helps in the growth of cells in both children and adults.

8. Try to use curd which is less fermented (less sour) and not so chilled. Never consume curd in excess too.

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