Imagine I make a smoothie with strawberries, banana, milk, and yogurt. To my eyes I see it as a smoothie. To a myth believer's eye they see it as a stomach killer. Does eating yogurt and milk together really cause an upset stomach or is it just another false misconception? Well let's pop this balloon to find out the truth!
What are the contents of milk and yogurt?
Cow milk is mainly made out of carbohydrate, fat, water, vitamins and minerals, and proteins. Yogurt is heated milk with bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The bacteria converts the lactose to lactic acid which thickens the milk and develops the distinctive tart flavor we are familiar with. The bacteria eats the milk sugar ferment the yogurt.
Why does yogurt and milk not go together?
According to Ayurveda, milk and yogurt are not a compatible combination of foods. Milk and yogurt has different natures. Milk is meant for smooth and cooling, whereas yogurt has heavy, sour, and heating qualities which are seen as direct opposites. Ayurveda also believes taking fermented items and milk together can block the channels of the body, also known as srootas. These blockages can lead to stomach problems, infections, and poor health.