By Setareh Kiumarsi
The best way to consume yogurt is to turn it into a digestive Lassi, also known as Lassi or Takrum?! Digestive lassi is simply yogurt diluted with warm water and mixed with digestive spices.
Remember… warm digestive buttermilk acts like a digestive nectar and helps improve metabolism… But cold, thick lassi (especially industrial ones that are often salty) is the enemy of digestion! It disrupts the digestive process, fills the stomach with phlegm, and makes the body feel heavy, lazy, and sleepy.
Never eat yogurt together with animal protein?! The good news is, if you turn it into warm digestive lassi, you can enjoy it with any meal. Just make sure it’s warm , like tea!
Yogurt for breakfast or dinner…?!
The worst time to eat yogurt is during breakfast or dinner?!
Have you ever noticed that when you wake up, your throat or nose is full of mucus… Or that when you have a cold, your nose runs more and you feel heavier in the evening?!
That’s because from 6–10 a.m. and 6–10 p.m., the body is dominated by the Kapha dosha ; a time of increased phlegm and slower metabolism.
Why…?! Because during these hours, the element of fire in the body is at its lowest. Metabolism slows down (unlike noon, when the sun is at its peak and digestive fire is strongest… the perfect time for your main meal)!
When you eat a highly phlegmatic and heavy food like yogurt (or cheese, or large amounts of rice or bread)… for breakfast or dinner, you fill your digestive tract with unprocessed phlegm and fat. Then you wonder: “I didn’t eat much… so why am I gaining weight?”
The best time to eat yogurt is during lunch (if your meal doesn’t contain animal protein) or as a snack(mixed with spices and herbs).
So, eating “bread and yogurt” or “bread and cheese” for breakfast or dinner thinking it’s a light meal, is a huge mistake! Both combinations are sticky, phlegm-producing, hard to digest, and fattening!
Is yogurt good for everyone?
Yogurt — especially cow’s yogurt — is phlegmatic and sticky in nature…
It increases moisture in the digestive system and the body.
Those who naturally have a moist temperament (Kapha type) or have developed excess phlegm due to poor diet and lifestyle should completely avoid yogurt and cheese made from cow’s milk.
Goat yogurt is lighter but still somewhat phlegmatic. The best option for such people is camel dairy, especially camel yogurt or lassi— which is light and produces gentle moisture in the digestive tract.
Common symptoms of excess moisture (Kapha) in the body:
Allergies, throat mucus, nasal congestion, frequent colds, sinusitis, asthma, weight gain, autoimmune diseases (like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, celiac, IBS…), rheumatic joint pain, diabetes, hypothyroidism, goiter, kidney stones, swelling, PCOS, high cholesterol, blood thickness, frequent fevers, heartburn, acid reflux, skin problems (itching, acne, eczema, hives), migraines, depression, sluggishness, mental fog, drowsiness, forgetfulness, and even Alzheimer’s…
Yogurt during fever or cold…?!
When we catch a cold, the body is full of unprocessed phlegm that tries to come out from every part …runny nose, throat mucus, chest congestion, sinus pressure.
To get rid of all that mucus, the immune system raises body temperature (fever) … increasing the fire element to burn away excess phlegm.
Now imagine eating yogurt, cheese, or milk… all extremely phlegmatic and moist!
That would undo all the body’s cleansing efforts!
So remember this rule: Never eat yogurt during a cold or fever!!!
What balances yogurt..?!
How adding digestive spices to yogurt can helps balance its heaviness and moisture?
Add warming, digestive spices such as saffron, cardamom, cumin, fennel, thyme, rosemary, dried basil, fennel, black seed, turmeric, coriander seed, or dried rose petals.
For example:
* 1 part fennel + 1 part cumin + 1 part coriander seed
* or 3 parts cardamom + 1 part dried rose!
* or 3 parts turmeric + 1 part coriander seed…
Did you know the combination of yogurt and turmeric is considered one of the strongest natural remedies for osteoporosis?!
What’s your idea about Yogurt with fresh herbs? Excellent idea! Why?
Because most fresh herbs have a drying quality.
When you mix them with yogurt (which is moist), they act like a sponge that absorbs the extra moisture and make digestion much easier.
So, add chopped fresh herbs such as( parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary, watercress, savory, or tarragon…) to your bowl of yogurt and enjoy!
Please make sure to mention the author, “Setareh Kiumarsi,” if you share or republish this article, which was written with hope for everyone’s health and love.
