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| Curd Rice |
Curd rice or dahi chawal may have originated as a south Indian dish but in the summer every north Indian swears by it as well. It is also the go-to meal for anyone suffering from an upset stomach. One of the biggest advantages this dish has over others is that it is extremely easy to make.
Before we get to the recipe however, let’s have a look at
10 common health benefits of curd rice:
1. It boosts digestion and works best for stomach upsets, indigestion and bloating.
2. It’s a good natural substitute for pro-biotic and antibiotics for very young children during early stages of fever.
3. Has the mercury risen too high for your comfort? Just add some curd to your diet and you will feel better.
4. Curd is also a natural fire extinguisher after a very spicy meal. A small cup of curd will keep those spice tears away.
5. It’s high in calcium and good fats and a must have in high protein diets.
6. You apply it on your skin or on your hair for a soft, healthy glow.
7. It increases immunity and the defence mechanism of the body.
8. It improves the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods in your body.
9. It’s extremely versatile in flavour and makes for a healthier substitute for milk and cream in your desserts and savoury dishes.
10. Curd is a good stress buster and great mood lifter. Studies show that both the probiotic bacteria and the good fats present in curd lower activity in parts of the brain that deal with pain and emotion, especially when consumed over a long period.
Benefits of Ingredients
Rice consists of lots of carbohydrates. This acts as an instant energizer and refreshes body and mind. It gets digested easily and quickly. It is an ideal health food for those who are debilitated and weak and require easy assimilation and quick energy. Texts of ayurveda recommend rice gruels along with buttermilk for digestive disorders such as diarrhea, dysentery, morning sickness, colitis, and jaundice.
Curd: Intestinal infections like cholera, typhoid, amoebiasis etc usually surface during summer. Consuming curd daily during summer helps to increase intestinal flora (friendly bacteria present in intestine). These bacteria increase the resistance of our intestines to these infections. Hence curd is known as a probiotic.
Probiotics are the good bacteria that promote healthy digestion and build immunity. The most common friendly bacteria (probiotics) are lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. These probiotics are easily available in the form of curd (yogurt). Persons who cannot digest milk can digest curd easily.
Consuming curd rice daily especially during summer, keeps the digestion and intestinal problems away. According to ayurveda curd absorbs water from intestines (hence called as Grahi). By the virtue of this property it is widely used to treat diarrhea and dysentery. It mitigates vata dosha, increases kapha and pitta. Curd helps to increase quality and quantity of semen, strengthens the body, accelerates digestion (agni), stimulates taste buds and acts as an appetizer.Curd reduces irritability of bladder and helps in emptying bladder easily.
