History:

“Doogh” is an objective adjective which is derived from the verb “milking”. Literally, the word “Doogh” is meant something which is milked. Doogh is of traditional and familiar drink in Iran. In Iran, Doogh was first considered as a byproduct of butter. For preparing Doogh, full- fat yogurt was first diluted with water and then, its fat was separated using a large leather bottle (goatskin) and the remaining was consumed as Doogh (yogurt drink).

Nowadays, previous production trend of doogh has changed and is produced industrially based on technology. In addition, production method of doogh has been changed as a fermented milk drink.

Doogh is a dairy drink which is obtained from mixing pasteurized yogurt, herbal essences and salt. This product has almost 50% of nutritional value of yogurt in an average. Since additives and preservatives are not used in production of yogurt, it has high nutritional value in terms of health of consumer.

In this article, it is tried to speak more about this traditional drink that Iranians drink “doogh” along with food.

Nutritional Value of Doogh

“Doogh” is a suitable and proper dairy product which can be consumed instead of carbonated soft drink in our food basket. Doogh is a healthy and useful drink that can meet our major daily requirement to calcium and vitamins of Group “B”.

Moreover having nutritional benefits, doogh (yogurt drink) includes useful and fruitful bacteria which has high effects on gastrointestinal (GI) health. Each liter of doogh includes 270 k/calorie energy, 1.5 to 2 percent protein, 0.5 percent fat and 0.6 percent gram calcium. Given the high nutritional value of doogh, rate of its calcium, phosphor and protein is very high and these materials are necessary for ossification, oxidation and internal metabolism of body. Of course, it is better drink gas- free doogh and with low amount of salt in it.  Since gasification of drinks (such as doogh) will give a better flavor, such issue will reduce its nutritional value. Therefore it is recommended to drink degasification doogh.

 Given the above issue, ordinary and regular doogh is prioritized to gasified doogh.
Various types of gas- free and gasified Doogh is better to be kept in refrigerator for increasing quality and durability of doogh.

Moreover adding salt, peppermint also is added to commercial and industrial Doogh (yogurt drink), because, peppermint has anti-flatulent property while the very Doogh is flatulent.

For preparing Doogh, one can add field basil, dried and smashed petals of damask rose to it which will give an excellent flavor and taste to Doogh.

Doogh (Yogurt Drink), the Best Drink for All

Do you know water, milk, low- salt and gas- free Doogh and natural fruit juices are the best drinks for all especially schoolchildren?

Nowadays, consumption of Doogh is recommended to all age brackets as a harmless and useful drink to all drinking liquids along with food is one of the common habits of people across the world. As a rite and ritual, people of every city and country show high tendency to specific drinks. In our country, drinks like water and Doogh were common from long time ago.

In recent decades, carbonated soft drinks and Ma’ Shair (barley drink) were added to the number of other Iranian drinks. Of course, some people use such drinks without paying attention to their nutritional value because of their interest. A glance at nutritional value of such detrimental drinks such as carbonated soft drink, people can have a better choice of drinking. In our country, water has still stood at first rank as most popular drink among other drinks. Since taste of human is varied, he or she likes to taste other drinks and for this purpose, people have resort drinking others.

Doogh (yogurt drink) is one of traditional Iranian drinks which is considered as the most hygienic and healthy drink after water and milk. Industrial and commercial Doogh usually has a partial amount of salt and this salt is detrimental for those diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension) or kidney or heart failures. Although it is decided to remove salt from commercial Doogh, people and elderly are better to consume household and handmade Doogh instead of commercial Doogh.

Moreover its nutritional benefit, Doogh includes useful bacteria that have constructive and fruitful effects on health of gastrointestinal (GI) tract. If Doogh is consumed repeatedly, its useful bacteria of streptococcus, thermophiles and lactobacillus bulgur’s will nestle in your gastrointestinal tract (GI) and will have very useful effects on health of your GI tract. Also, consumption of Doogh will cause lack of growth of detrimental organisms. It is recommended to consume Doogh and milk when air is polluted. These foods [milk and Doogh] neutralize poisons and toxics due to high phosphor, magnesium and calcium they have. Air pollution affects on body tissues, respiratory and cardiovascular system considerably.

Why Should Doogh Be Consumed Instead of Carbonated Soft Drink?

Carbonated soft drink is one of the most popular drinks in world in a way that its consumption is increased day by day. Even, children use high amount of carbonated soft drink. Given the above issue, youth and young adults in particular show high tendency to use this detrimental drink. Here, a question may hit in your mind. Have you ever asked yourself that how much this detrimental drink i.e. carbonated soft drink is useful for you?

What is the effect of carbonated soft drink on your body which has high sugar amount and calorie and also caffeine without any nutritional value in it?

Relationship between Carbonated Soft Drink and Obesity [Overweight]

Recent studies indicate direct effect of carbonated soft drink on increasing percentage of obesity among children. However, carbonated soft drink has direct effect on oversight and obesity of children. A two-year study in this regard showed that children, aged 12 years who use carbonated soft drink, are at high risk of obesity and overweight 1.6 fold more than that of those who do not use carbonated soft drink.

Relationship between Carbonated Soft Drink and Teeth

It can be said that people, who use carbonated soft drink (beverage) repeatedly, consume seven teaspoons of sugar daily which is detrimental for body health and teeth.

 This amount of sugar has high calorie which is harmful for health of teeth.

Relationship between Carbonated Soft Drink and Bones

Phosphoric acid is one of the main components of carbonated soft drink which is the main cause behind increased discharge or repletion of calcium from bones. Use of carbonated soft drink will increase outbreak of osteoporosis considerably.

Recent studies on young girls showed that more consumption of this fizzy drink can exposed them to bone fracture as well.

Consumption of even one or two bottles of carbonated soft drinks in a day in risky especially in adolescence. Statistics show that consumption of milk and dairies is reduced with considerable increase in consumption of carbonated soft drink.  Generally speaking, carbonated soft drink can jeopardize your health condition considerably and it is recommended not to use it anymore in order to have a better health condition.

Benefits and Advantages of Main Material for Producing Doogh: Yogurt

As a result of fermentation of bacteria, milk is turned into yogurt.

Except small and negligible differences, milk and yogurt have vitamin compound and minerals similar to each other. Although compound of minerals of milk and yogurt is similar, some minerals such as calcium in yogurt are high. Usually, yogurt has less lactose and more lactic acid than milk and for this reason, people who lack toleration of lactose and cannot use milk, it is recommended to use yogurt instead. In general, one cup of low- fat yogurt (254 gram) includes 155 kg/calorie energy, 13-gr. protein and 12-gr. carbohydrate and also 8.3-gr. fat. Of course, yogurt’s fat rate depends on milk. Yogurt is an excellent source of food which is rich in calcium (447 mg) and riboflavin and also is rich in magnesium (43 mg) and potassium (573 mg). Each cup of yogurt provides half of calcium rate as recommended for children and also 30- 40 percent of calcium as recommended for adults. Each cup of yogurt provides 20 percent of protein required by many people.

Several studies have been conducted on the therapeutic and preventive effects of yogurt and the bacteria used in production of yogurt on the diseases such as cancer, infections and GI disorders.  It is believed that consumption of yogurt especially among individuals suffering from body immune system’s disorder (such as adults and adolescents) can help increase their response to relevant diseases. In general, yogurt is highly recommended to be used by people suffering from physical disorders. Yogurt helps increase health of large intestine. Yogurt includes lacto bacteria which can preserve and protect large intestine. Even, yogurt reduces cancer risk of large intestine. These bacteria help intestine’s useful bacteria to grow and cause reduction of conversion of bile into carcinogens. It seems that these bacteria in yogurt can inactive detrimental materials before being carcinogen (such as nitrates and nitrites before turning them into nitrosamine). On the other hand, yogurt like milk is rich in calcium. Calcium is a mineral that causes health of large intestine and reduces risk of cancer. Calcium is bonded with bile acids which cause cancer and prevents stimulation of large intestine by these materials.

Fermentation of yogurt increases absorption of calcium and vitamins “B”. Lactic acid in yogurt helps better digestion of milk’s calcium and also helps its easier absorption. Therefore, fermentation of milk may have effects on accessibility of minerals. It is shown that calcium and phosphor in yogurt is absorbed better than that of milk. Calcium improves body immune system, that is to say that calcium increases activity of lymphocytes and production of interleukin. Yogurt helps improve intestinal infections. Yogurt is a good food for diarrhea. Many pediatricians recommend yogurt for children who suffer from malnutrition. Studies show that children with diarrhea are treated and healed rapidly when they eat yogurt.

Eating low- salt yogurt and Doogh along with consumption of antibiotics are useful. Yogurt minimizes ill antibiotic effects on intestine’s useful bacteria. Low- fat yogurt can reduce cholesterol and this is due to the absorption of cholesterol by live bacteria in yogurt. Generally speaking, low- salt and gas- free Doogh and yogurt are highly recommended to children for their better growth.