can we eat curd on empty stomach - #41875
I am really confused about whether we can eat curd on empty stomach. I’ve always heard different opinions about it, and honestly, I love curd! Like, it’s my go-to snack or side with meals. A few weeks back, I started having it in the mornings, thinking it would be a healthy choice, but then I came across this article saying that it might not be good to have it on empty stomach, especially in the winter! 😟 I have been dealing with some digestive issues lately, like bloating after meals and sometimes even some acidity, which makes me think maybe eating curd on empty stomach isn’t the best idea for me? My mother swears by it and says it’s packed with probiotics that help in digestion, while my friend claims it can lead to digestive problems when not eaten after a meal. I am just not sure who to believe! Also, it’s weird, but sometimes after eating curd, I feel this weird heaviness, like I can’t digest it properly. Could that be because I’m eating it wrong? Should I stop eating curd on empty stomach altogether? Or is there a way to make it work for me? I just want to be healthy and enjoy my food without feeling bloated or anything. Any advice would be super helpful!
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Doctors' responses
Eating curd on an empty stomach can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re experiencing digestive issues like bloating or acidity. In Ayurveda, curd is considered heavy (guru) and has sour (amla) and slightly heating properties, which can influence your digestive fire (agni) differently based on your dosha and current state of digestion. Having curd first thing in the morning, particularly in cooler seasons like winter, could potentially aggravate kapha and increase mucus production, leading to that heavy feeling you mentioned.
Given your symptoms, it might be wise to avoid eating curd on an empty stomach. Instead, consider incorporating it into your meals after the stomach has some other food to process—it’s meant to accompany rather than lead your meal. For example, consuming curd with a pinch of cumin or black pepper can help aid digestion reducing possible bloating and acidity. These spices help to balance the qualities of curd, counteracting its potential heaviness and promoting better assimilation.
Alternatively, you could try having buttermilk instead of curd. Dilute a small amount of curd in water, churning it well, and adding spices like ginger or coriander. This lightly spiced buttermilk acts as a digestive aid, counteracting bloating and enhancing agni without overwhelming your system.
Regarding your suspicion that curd might be contributing to your digestive discomfort, it aligns with Ayurvedic wisdom to eat according to one’s digestive ability. Eating heavy, sour foods like curd when the stomach is empty can potentially lead to discomfort, especially if your agni is already impaired. Adjust this habit and notice if your symptoms improve. Importantly, balance overall diet and lifestyle for the best outcomes—avoiding too much cold, oily, or heavy foods that might exacerbate your symptoms, and favor warm, light, and cooked meals throughout the day.
If digestive issues persist or if symptoms worsen, consider consulting with an authentic Ayurvedic practitioner to evaluate your specific prakriti and make personalized dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
Eating curd on an empty stomach can be tricky, especially if you’re noticing digestive issues like bloating and acidity. According to Siddha-Ayurvedic principles, curd, or yogurt, tends to increase kapha dosha, which governs the body’s structure and fluid balance. Consuming it first thing in the morning, particularly on an empty stomach, could actually disrupt your digestive fire, known as agni. When agni is compromised, digestion becomes sluggish, and symptoms like bloating or heaviness can occur, much like you’re experiencing.
For balancing digestion, it’s generally advisable to avoid having curd on an empty stomach. In particular, during colder months like winter, the natural inclination of kapha is to rise, potentially causing further imbalance and making digestion less efficient. Instead, incorporating curd with or after a meal can aid better digestion, as the digestive fire is already active, and the probiotics naturally found in curd can work more efficiently.
A suitable way to enjoy curd while minimizing discomfort is to have it during the midday meal, preferably incorporating it with spices that enhance agni, such as cumin, black pepper, or jeera. Additionally, for those prone to digestive disturbances, diluting curd to make buttermilk and seasoning it with a pinch of rock salt and ginger can further enrich its digestibility. Furthermore, its always beneficial to observe how your body reacts and adjust your diet accordingly – not all bodies respond the same way to these changes.
However, if you’re experiencing persistent digestive challenges, it might be worthwhile to consult a practitioner who can provide insights specifically tailored to your body’s constitution, taking into account your specific dosha balance, to suggest the best dietary adjustments.

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