Hinduism and Dairy Yogurt

Numerous studies have linked dairy Yogurt, which the Tamils call தயிர் (thayir), to reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. For instance, a 2023 study involving more than 46,000 adults living in the US found that eating yogurt was associated with lower blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference.

Many studies have linked yogurt consumption to improvements in immunity, bone density and longevity and to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. It has been found that yogurt is high in calcium, a nutrient helpful for stronger bones. The US Food and Drug Administration announced in early 2024 that consuming at least three servings of yogurt per week may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. This was based on multiple studies, including one that involved more than 192,000 adults living in the US. It found that increasing yogurt consumption by more than half a serving per day was associated with an 11% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes over a four-year period.

We know that bacteria used to ferment yogurt release compounds called bioactive peptides that are otherwise locked up in milk proteins and are believed to help lower blood pressure and regulate immune responses. Live bacteria in yogurt can also affect the make-up of the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in regulating immune responses and metabolism. 

Source: pgs 39 - 40, New Scientist [2.11.2024]

Hindu scriptures, particularly the Ayurveda and various Puranas, extol the virtues of yogurt (தயிர்) for its numerous health benefits. Here are some references and insights from these texts:

1. Yogurt in Ayurveda

Ayurvedic texts like the Charaka Saṃhita and Susruta Saṃhita provide extensive guidance on the benefits and proper consumption of yogurt:

a. Digestive Benefits: Yogurt is known to balance Vata and Pitta doshas but can aggravate Kapha if consumed excessively. It aids digestion and is beneficial in treating constipation and bloating.

i. Vata is cold, dry, light, rough, and mobile in nature: Yogurt, being moist, heavy, and slightly warm, helps counteract these properties, thus pacifying excess Vata. This makes yogurt beneficial for people with dry skin, weak digestion, bloating, joint pain, and nervous system imbalances, which are signs of excess Vata.

1. Best way for Vata individuals to consume yogurt: With a pinch of rock salt, honey, or ghee, which enhances digestion. Avoid sour or cold yogurt, as it can create excessive dryness and bloating.

ii. Yogurt’s Effect on Pitta (Fire & Water) – Balancing: Pitta is hot, oily, sharp, and intense in nature: Yogurt, especially when fresh and sweet, has a cooling effect that soothes Pitta, helping with acid reflux, ulcers, excessive hunger, and inflammatory conditions. However, sour yogurt (fermented for too long) can be heating, which may exacerbate Pitta, leading to skin rashes, acidity, and excessive body heat. 

1. Best way for Pitta individuals to consume yogurt: Mildly sweet and fresh yogurt, not too sour. Mixing it with coconut, mint, or sugar can enhance its cooling effects. Avoid consuming yogurt during hot weather or midday. 

iii. Yogurt’s Effect on Kapha (Earth & Water) – Aggravating: Kapha is heavy, cold, moist, and slow, and yogurt has similar properties, making it aggravating when consumed excessively. Excess Kapha symptoms include weight gain, sluggish digestion, excessive mucus, congestion, and lethargy. Yogurt’s thick, sticky nature increases mucus production, which can lead to sinus issues, colds, and coughs in Kapha-prone individuals.

1. Best way for Kapha individuals to consume yogurt: Only in moderation, preferably diluted (e.g., buttermilk). Best spiced with black pepper, turmeric, or ginger to counteract its heavy nature. Avoid consuming yogurt at night, as it increases mucus buildup.

b. Nutritional Value: It is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative food) that promotes strength, immunity, and longevity. It provides prana (life force) and is particularly nourishing when taken with honey or jaggery.

c. Best Ways to Consume Yogurt: Should be eaten during the daytime (not at night) to avoid excessive mucus production. Mixing yogurt with honey, rock salt, or ghee makes it more beneficial.

d. Contraindications: Avoid consuming yogurt when suffering from cold, cough, or fever. Sour yogurt is said to cause bloating and aggravate Pitta and Kapha doshas.

General Guidelines for Yogurt Consumption in Ayurveda

✅ Best eaten during the day, preferably with warm spices.

✅ Avoid consuming it cold, as it slows digestion.

✅ Avoid yogurt when suffering from cough, cold, sinusitis, or fever.

✅ Buttermilk (diluted yogurt with water and spices) is considered superior to plain yogurt for digestion.

2. Yogurt in Hindu Scriptures and Rituals

Hindu scriptures contain numerous references to dairy yogurt being praised, both explicitly and implicitly, by deities such as Lord Krishna, Lord Dhanvantari, and the Vedic sages. Its consumption is endorsed through divine actions, scriptural recommendations, and ritualistic significance.

a. Bhagavata Puraṇa & Other Texts: Yogurt is a sattvic food and is often offered to deities, especially to Krishna, who is famously associated with butter and curd. Lord Krishna’s childhood stories frequently mention his love for yogurt and butter, symbolizing its importance in Hindu culture.

Lord Krishna is the most closely associated with yogurt: The Bhagavata Puraṇa (Srimad Bhagavatam) vividly describes Krishna’s childhood in Gokula and Vrindavan, where he stole butter and yogurt (makhan & dahi) from the gopis’ houses. His "mischief" in stealing yogurt is not mere playfulness; it symbolises the supreme divinity’s love for pure, satvic food and nourishment. The Gopala Sahasranama praises Krishna as "Dadhi-priya" (one who loves yogurt) and "Navanita-chora" (the divine butter thief), highlighting its sacredness.

b. Lord Dhanvantari (Deity of Ayurveda) and Yogurt’s Health Benefits: Dhanvantari, the God of Ayurveda, is revered in texts like the Charaka Saṃhita and Susruta Saṃhita, which extensively detail the health benefits of yogurt. Yogurt is classified as a Rasayana (rejuvenating substance), indicating divine endorsement for its role in promoting health, strength, and longevity.

c. Vedic References to Yogurt as Divine Nourishment: The Rig Veda (10.179.3) and Atharva Veda mention the use of curds and milk as symbols of prosperity, sustenance, and nourishment. In Vedic yajnas (sacrificial rites), yogurt is mixed with ghee and honey to prepare pancamṛta, an elixir offered to deities and consumed as prasada.

d. Yogurt in Hindu Rituals and Offerings to Deities: In Sri Vaiṣṇava temples, offerings like "Dadhi-anna" (curd rice) are sacred foods presented to Lord Vishnu. The Pancamrta abhiṣeka (ritual bathing of deities) uses yogurt, symbolising purity, nourishment, and divine grace.

e. In Sri Lalita Sahasranama, Goddess Lalita is described as "Kṣira-dhadhi-savitri", indicating her association with sacred dairy products, including yogurt.

2. Seasonal Consumption (Ṛtu-carya): Texts advise that yogurt should be eaten in autumn and winter, but not in summer, when it can generate excessive heat.

Conclusion

Hindu scriptures and Ayurveda highly recommend yogurt as a health-promoting food, provided it is consumed correctly according to one's body type, season, and time of day.