Eating curd at night is something that can be looked at from a few different angles, especially from a Siddha-Ayurvedic perspective. Let’s break it down. First of all, curd is generally beneficial because it contains probiotics, which help support digestion and strengthen the immune system. However, your mom and friend may both have points worth considering.
In Ayurveda, curd is considered to have a sour and heavy nature, which can sometimes increase kapha dosha and potentially aggravate it if consumed at night. This dosha is all about structure and stability, and an imbalance can lead to issues like congestion, cold, and even digestive sluggishness. The nighttime is when kapha energy naturally rises, which means eating curd could theoretically exacerbate this energy even more, particularly if your constitution is already kapha-predominant.
Despite this, if you’ve been eating curd at night and feel fine, there’s no immediate health risk. Pay attention to your body’s response, as indigestion or strange dreams might not be directly linked to curd but could be a signal of an underlying digestion issue. To help mitigate any negative effects, you might add some warming spices like cumin or black pepper—which balance curd’s heaviness—if consumed in the evening.
Regarding mixing curd with spicy food like curry, it’s indeed common because curd can cool and soothe the spiced dishes’ heat, balancing pitta dosha. However, be mindful of potential incompatibilities (viruddha ahara) in extreme combinations of heat and sourness.
Overall, while you can have curd at night, it might be better suited as a daytime food for some people, especially if you notice any discomfort. Monitor your body’s response to better understand what’s suitable for your unique constitution and see if any patterns emerge.
