is eating curd at night bad - #24524
I am really confused about whether is eating curd at night bad or not. I’ve been hearing a lot of mixed opinions from my family and friends. Like, my mom says it’s not good, but my cousin swears it helps her sleep better! A week ago, I had a heavy dinner and then ate some curd right before bed. The next morning, I woke up feeling all bloated and kinda sluggish 😩. I didn’t think much of it, thought maybe it was just the heavy food. But then, I did some googling and found stuff saying is eating curd at night bad for digestion, or something about mucus buildup? I mean, I love my curd, especially with some fruits or honey! Now, I’m just left wondering if I should shy away from it at night or what. I also read that curd can be a probiotic and maybe it helps gut health. Can it be both good and bad?? Should I listen to my mom or trust my cousin's advice?? Ugh, this is so frustrating. Any insights would be super helpful!
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Doctors’ responses
Eating curd at night can actually have different effects depending on your individual constitution or ‘prakriti’ and current health condition. In Ayurveda, understanding your dosha—whether Vata, Pitta, or Kapha—is crucial in determining whether curd is suitable for you, especially at night.
In general, Ayurveda advises against consuming curd at nighttime, particularly if you have a Kapha or Pitta imbalance. This is because curd is considered heavy and hard to digest, potentially leading to digestive issues like bloating or sluggishness, which aligns with what you experienced. It’s also believed to increase Kapha dosha, which can cause mucus buildup, especially when the digestive fire or ‘agni’ is weaker at night.
However, if you find curd beneficial for sleep or gut health, there might be ways to modify how you consume it to reduce negative effects. You can incorporate spices like cumin, black pepper, or a pinch of cinnamon to aid digestion when having curd at night. Having it with some honey can help too—it lightens its heavy properties. Make sure the curd is not very sour or cold.
If probiotics are what you’re after, consider having curd as a part of your daytime meals instead when the digestive fire is stronger. Consuming curd with lunch can provide the probiotic benefits without affecting night’s digestion.
Ultimately, listening to your body, along with these protections, should be your guide. Try different timings and combinations, see what works best for you. But if you consistently feel bloated or sluggish, you might wanna consider your mom’s advice and minimize curd intake at night. If in doubt, consulting an Ayurveda practitioner for personalized guidance based on your ‘prakriti’ can also help clear things up.

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