Curd vs Buttermilk: Nutritional Differences and Choosing the Best for Your Health

One of the prime things that cross our mind multiple times our day is ‘food’. Our choice of food plays a very vital role not only in satiating our hunger and providing us with energy, but it is a crucial factor in maintaining our overall health. Our food could be the cause as well as the medicine of our diseases. Hence, it can be quite confusing to decide the right kind of food for your body. One such common confusion is the difference between curd and buttermilk.

Curd and buttermilk are both nutritious food choices. They are both great natural probiotics that are good for the gut. Buttermilk is especially good for digestion, hyperacidity, heartburn, and other stomach issues. Curd too is nutritious and has therapeutic effects when consumed in the right way!

The difference between Curd and Buttermilk

Curd and buttermilk both trace their origin back to milk. In fact, buttermilk is a by-product of curd and both contain more or less similar nutrients. But contrary to popular misbelief, buttermilk is not just diluted curd. There is a world of difference between the two!

Buttermilk is the residue obtained by the churning of curd. It is first diluted with water and churned to separate the fats. Once the buttermilk is separated, herbs and spices are added to it to enhance its benefits.

Spices like cumin, pepper, ginger, green chilies, curry leaves, and coriander leaves are crushed and added. This helps enhance the taste and therapeutic benefits of the drink. Each one of the spices is excellent digestives. They help prevent indigestion and burping. 

Curd vs Buttermilk

Curd and buttermilk are both nutritious. But to choose the right option you must know the individual properties of both. 

Here are 5 key differences between curd and buttermilk that will help you pick the right one.

Their Nutritional Content

Buttermilk is a rich source of calcium, vitamin B12, zinc, riboflavin, and proteins. It helps in keeping the bones healthy, lowering the level of bad cholesterol, preventing cancer, and battling stress. 

Curd contains calcium, phosphorus, vitamins B12, B5, B2, potassium, and proteins. These nutrients are very beneficial in preventing hypertension and heart diseases. It also promotes teeth and bone health. Experts also say that curd helps in reducing stress and anxiety.

Their impact on the digestion

The very prime and foremost difference between curd and buttermilk is their digestion. Curd is hard to digest but buttermilk is an excellent digestive. Curd is very hard to digest and it has a tendency to ferment in the digestive tract. Thus, resulting in digestive issues. 

Ayurveda says, curd or yogurt is a healthy choice, but one must have a strong digestive system to benefit from curd. Whereas, buttermilk helps soothe an irritated stomach lining after a spicy meal. It helps in combating hyperacidity, treating IBS and stomach infections. Also, buttermilk is a good option for people who cannot tolerate lactose.

When’s the right time?

It’s very important to eat the right thing at the right time. Ayurveda says consuming curd at night is a grave mistake. So, the best time to eat yogurt is at lunchtime, when the digestive system is the strongest.

According to Ayurveda, buttermilk can be drunk any time of the day. But, the best time to consume buttermilk is 15 minutes before breakfast. If you have stomach-related problems, then drinking buttermilk on an empty stomach can help.

Their impact on weight

Buttermilk contains less fat and calories as compared to curd. So, for those who are aiming for weight loss, buttermilk is a great choice. 100 grams of buttermilk contains 40 calories, whereas 100 grams of curd contains about 98 calories. But for those who want to gain weight, the curd is a better option.

Also consuming it every day may lead to accumulation of fat tissues, increased swelling, water retention, susceptibility for increased infections, and even constipation. Ayurveda further says, consuming more curd every day may increase your risk of diabetes.

Buttermilk helps in washing down the fats after a heavy meal. It detoxifies the body and cleanses the intestines. This soothing summer drink can also aid in relieving constipation and help replenish intestinal flora. 

Also Read: Buttermilk for weight loss – A complete guide

Fluid Content

Buttermilk contains around 90 percent of water and electrolyte like potassium. So, there is no doubt that it’s a better hydrator than curd because of the dilution. That’s why it is one of the favorite summer-time drinks for rehydration. 

On the contrary, curd has limited fluid content. Curd is suitable for people on a fluid-restricted diet but requires an intake of good quality proteins. Those with kidney problems or on dialysis can opt for curd. 

Also Read: Ayurvedic benefits of Buttermilk

Curd or buttermilk – Which one is the best?

So, we can say, curd and buttermilk are both healthy and nutritious choices. Both have their own set of benefits. 

But if you weigh the digestive benefits and weight loss properties then buttermilk is superior to curd. As per Ayurveda, the root cause of all diseases is low digestive fire and buttermilk is an excellent digestive. It amps up your digestive fire and heals your system from inside. Further, the herbs and spices in buttermilk have great therapeutic effects.

But if you are advised to limit your fluid intake or you are aiming to gain weight then the curd is the better choice. However, you must take care to consume curd in the right way at the right time!