From refreshing lassis and delicious raitas, to curd-based smoothies, dahi is among the best summer ingredients to cool down our bodies. Whether served with stuffed paranthas, pulav or mixed into spicy curries, we rely on curd to elevate our meals. However, this thick, creamy ingredient might be the villain of your summer diet. Here are some of the major side effects of curd that you must consider before including it in your everyday meals.

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Side effects of curd

Curd is loaded with probiotics, the good bacteria that aid digestion and maintain gut health. It also cures constipation, boosts immunity, enhances metabolism, prevents premature ageing and improves skin health. However, these benefits of curd can turn into side effects in some individuals, interfering with their long-term health. Here’s how.

1. Causes indigestion

Curd is sour and acidic, which can lead to acid reflux in some people by reacting with their body’s heat. Furthermore, it can worsen indigestion and cause gastric issues in people who are prone to chronic digestive problems.

2. Can cause weight gain

Curd is relatively low in calories and high in protein, which is why it is suggested for people undertaking a weight loss journey. However, when consumed with sugar, honey and other high-calorie ingredients, curd ultimately increases your overall calorie intake. This leads to weight gain. Furthermore, if you eat curd made using full-fat milk, it leads to a calorie surplus, contributing to excess weight.

3. Headaches

As absurd as this might sound, the consumption of curd or yoghurt can lead to increased headaches and migraine issues in some people. According to the American Migraine Foundation, foods high in tyramine, a type of amino acid, can expand blood vessels. This is similar to what people undergo when they experience a migraine attack. Similarly, curd or yoghurt contains a significant amount of tyramine. However, the AMF report suggests that this happens more when we consume aged dairy products rather than freshly made ones.

4. Causes skin allergies

Curd is a milk product and can cause skin allergies like hives, acne, itching and swelling. This is because everyone reacts differently to different proteins. Sometimes, the body can misinterpret a healthy protein as a threat. This increases the body’s heat, raising the allergy level, which further causes skin allergies.

How to prevent side effects of curd

Unless you’re lactose-intolerant, it’s hard to eliminate curd from your summer diet. But you can always follow easy precautions to minimise the side effects of curd. Here are some of the most important things to remember to enjoy curd without worrying about its negative impact.

1. Eat homemade curd

You should consume freshly prepared curd to maximise its probiotic benefits. If making curd at home is a hassle, you can buy it from a trusted local dairy shop near you. However, store-bought curd and flavoured yoghurt contain added sugars and artificial flavours. This can further impact your health negatively.

2. Consume in moderation

We get your love for dahi in summer, but its excess intake can cause you more harm than good. So, you must consume it moderately during the day.

3. Avoid having curd at night

Curd is a heavy food to digest and shouldn’t be eaten at night. This is because our body’s enzymes are comparatively less active at night to work on digestion. Furthermore, during nighttime, the acidic nature of curd reacts with heat in the stomach, accelerating fermentation. This, in turn, can make you feel bloated and sluggish, which disrupts your body’s digestion process. So, you must eat curd either in the morning or at noon to ensure proper digestion.

4. Do not consume warm curd

Do you also love cooking vegetable curry, rice and other dishes with curd? While they might taste delicious, such dishes can be harmful as the curd loses its nutritional properties during cooking. So, you must not heat curd to cook.

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