Can consuming curds at night lead to excess mucus, cold, and indigestion? Well, no!

Beyond its culinary appeal, curds are also valued for its health benefits, believed to aid digestion and promote gut health due to its probiotic content.

Its versatility extends to various regional cuisines, where it’s incorporated into dishes like raita, lassi, and kadhi, showcasing the diverse ways curds are integrated into Indian cuisine.

But can consuming curds at night lead to excess mucus, cold, and indigestion? And does daily consumption create blockages in the body’s channels?

An Ayurveda rheumatologist, Dr Kavitha, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Don’t take your curds this way. Do not consume curds at night, as it leads to excess mucus, cold, and indigestion. Don’t take curds daily—it creates blockages in body channels [sic].”

She added that curds should be consumed only one way: “Once or twice a week, in the afternoon, in small quantities, without heating. You may be Satmya to it [sic].”

Don’t take your #curd this way :-

📍Do not consume curd at night, leads to excess mucous with cold, indigestion

📍Don’t take curd daily – creates blockages of body channels

So how to have curd :-

– once or twice a week
– afternoon time
– less quantity
– without heating pic.twitter.com/ZEhSDbvsaq

— Dr. Kavitha Dev (@DrKavithadev) May 9, 2024

She also said, “Satmya is a unique concept in Ayurveda, which means certain factors that can easily assimilate in the human body without causing any difficulty. It will not create a problem for you now, but that doesn’t mean it is healthy. It can create problems in the long run [sic].”

You may be Satmya to it.

Satmya is an unique concept in Ayurveda, which means certain factors that can easily assimilate in the human body without causing any difficulty

It will not be creating problem to you now, but doesn’t mean it is healthy.
Create problem in long run

— Dr. Kavitha Dev (@DrKavithadev) May 9, 2024

Curds are a traditional fermented dairy product originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is made by fermenting milk with a bacterial culture, resulting in a tangy and probiotic-rich food.

The fermentation process involves converting lactose in milk into lactic acid by probiotic microorganisms.

However, according to Ayurveda, curds are known to cause Kapha, which is the reason behind mucus generation that is predominant in the night time. So as per Ayurveda, curds should be avoided at night.

Related: Don’t eat curd when you have cold!’ Is there any merit to this?

Curds explained

Curds contain the following key elements:

Protein: Curds contains around 3-3.5 percent protein, mainly in the form of whey and casein. Whey protein makes up about 38 percent of the solid content in whey.

Carbohydrates: Curds contain a moderate amount of carbohydrates, with lactose being the major component. The carbohydrate content in most Indian curd brands varies from 4.6 percent to 6.5 percent.

Vitamins and minerals: Curds are a rich source of calcium and phosphorus. It also contains minerals like potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, and fluoride.

Curds are also rich in B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, folate and B12), choline, betaine, retinol (vitamin A), carotene beta, and vitamin D, among other nutrients.

Fat: The fat content in curds vary, with whole milk curd containing 5-8 grams per 100 grams, while skim milk curd contains only 0.05-0.1 gram.

Water: Curds contain a high percentage of water, around 85-91 percent, depending on the fat content.

Also Read: After SC’s verdict against pay parity, Ayurvedic doctors miffed

Does consuming curds at night cause harm?

Doctors are not happy the assumption that consuming curds at night might cause harm.

Some reacted: “Most South Indians consume curd every single day and night since centuries. And suddenly, some random pseudogyaan on curd being bad. [sic]”

Most South Indians consume curd every single day and night since centuries. And suddenly, some random pseudogyaan on curd being bad. https://t.co/gZVPd0XyQM

— Dr Deepak Krishnamurthy (@DrDeepakKrishn1) May 10, 2024

Others said: “Do not take nutritional advice from Ayurveda practitioners. All you get served are alphabet soup and word salad. No main course, and definitely no dessert.”

PSA: Do not take nutritional advice from Ayurveda practitioners. All you get served are alphabet soup and word salad. No main course, and definitely no dessert. pic.twitter.com/mZ9zeYlxJn

— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) May 10, 2024

And, overall Hyderabad-based physician Dr Prakshit Desai told South First that every aspect of curds has a benefit.

“Curds provide a valuable protein source, making it a beneficial addition to your evening meal. By incorporating it into dinner, you can feel satiated, reducing the temptation for late-night snacking and excessive eating,” he said.

He added that curds were also abundant in calcium, which was crucial for maintaining strong bones and teeth, thus contributing to your daily calcium requirements when consumed at night.

“The probiotics present in curds foster a healthy gut environment by stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria, aiding digestion and averting issues like indigestion and constipation. Moreover, after a physically active day or an evening workout, the protein in curds aid in muscle recovery and regeneration,” he noted.

“Furthermore, curds contain tryptophan, an amino acid scientifically proven to enhance sleep quality by facilitating serotonin synthesis, a neurotransmitter linked with relaxation and sound sleep,” said Prakshit.

He asked to avoid sugary and cold curds.

🔖 Don’t listen to the nonsense https://t.co/zufpgz78jw

— Vinod Scaria (@vinodscaria) May 10, 2024

(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)