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Are traditional fermented foods enough for gut health today?
Traditional fermented foods like curd and buttermilk have long formed the foundation of gut health in Indian diets, supporting digestion and overall wellbeing for generations. Today, however, changing lifestyles, higher stress levels, frequent antibiotic use, and irregular eating habits have made gut health more critical and complex than ever before. As a result, quality, freshness, and consistency now matter as much as tradition.
This is where innovation plays an important role. Modern dairy science allows us to strengthen traditional formats with well-studied probiotic cultures and prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides that help nourish beneficial gut bacteria. When combined with high-quality milk and controlled processing, these innovations make everyday foods like curd, yogurt, and buttermilk more effective and reliable for daily gut support. By blending traditional wisdom with science-backed probiotic and prebiotic solutions, dairy can continue to serve as one of the most accessible and trusted ways to support gut health in India.
Does India need daily supplementation or only therapeutic usage?
For most healthy individuals, daily consumption of good-quality fermented dairy is sufficient. Supplements are more relevant for therapeutic or short-term use, such as after illness or medication. For everyday gut health, food-based solutions are more sustainable and culturally acceptable in India.
What do you think most Indians prefer right now: curd or a capsule?
Most Indians still prefer curd or buttermilk over capsules. Food feels familiar, safe, and affordable. Capsules are seen as medicine, while dairy is seen as nourishment. This makes dairy a far more natural choice for daily gut care.
Is curd or yogurt clinically comparable to a probiotic capsule?
They serve different purposes. Probiotic capsules are strain-specific and used for targeted outcomes. Curd and yogurt offer broader digestive benefits along with protein, calcium, and nutrition. When produced under controlled conditions with live cultures, dairy can be highly effective for daily gut health.
Are CFU numbers just marketing?
CFU numbers matter, but only when viewed in the right context. What matters more is whether the probiotic cultures are alive and active when the product is consumed. This depends heavily on milk quality, processing conditions, and consistent cold-chain management. Without freshness and proper handling, CFU claims alone cannot guarantee effectiveness.
Which format will dominate India in the next five years?
Food-based formats will dominate. Products like high-protein yogurt, functional buttermilk, and synbiotic dairy fit naturally into Indian diets and address multiple needs at once gut health, nutrition, and protein intake.
Future of gut health: dairy and supplements coexist or compete?
They will coexist, not compete. Supplements will remain important for clinical and therapeutic needs, while dairy-based solutions will lead to everyday gut health. In India, food will always be the first line of nutrition, with supplements playing a supporting role.
Mansi Jamsudkar Padvekar