Yogurt plays an important role in our life. In the summer, consumption increases. As per Nature Cure, the rule of thumb is you consume 6 to 8 oz yogurt daily with breakfast or lunch. Yogurt is pure, natural food and when we prepare it at home, there is no sugar, salt or preservatives added - just pure yogurt. Believe me, it is also very inexpensive.

This is one of the best foods and it is beneficial for our digestive system because it works as a pro-biotic. It has live cultures and increases good bacteria in our small intestines, which boosts our health. As compared to milk, our body is capable of digesting yogurt easier. It becomes more nutritious than milk. When milk converts into yogurt its quality of Vitamin B increases and the quantities of thiamine and riboflavin doubles.

Yogurt is also a main source of protein. We use it in preparing many dishes, a variety of yogurt drinks, hung curd, snacks, rich curries and while making many desserts. You can also make a yogurt drink which is filling, satisfying, delicious, and is exceptionally good to fix stomach irritation and constipation.

No doubt there are tons of varieties of yogurt in the market ready to eat, but no one beats this natural homemade yogurt. Prepackaged yogurt has incorporated sugar, salt, fish bone, preservatives, and thickening agents, as compared to homemade yogurt. We make it with real milk. This is the reason homemade yogurt is so good for human health.

You need a yogurt starter to make homemade yogurt. There are two ways:

The first method is: when we meet friends (Indian community) or Indian restaurant, we ask without hesitation if they have yogurt starter. We need only one tablespoon. Believe me, they are generous and give it happily.

The second method is:

1 cup of dry milk powder of your choice

1 tablespoon plain yogurt

1-liter milk, the one you like

Boil the milk and let it cool to lukewarm. Add dry milk powder and mix it thoroughly. Mix in plain yogurt. Put the lid tight and wrap a towel around. Leave it on the kitchen counter for overnight, for 6 to 8 hours. In the morning, remove the towel, open the lid and it is ready. Store it in the refrigerator.

Many years ago, when I lived in California, one of my friends had brought a tiny container of homemade yogurt from India in her luggage. She made yogurt from that starter and distributed to her friends. She brought some to me also saying her parents had a cow at home and that was the best organic yogurt starter. I continued making yogurt from that yogurt starter for ten years until I moved to Arizona.

Now with milk only:

1-liter milk

1 tablespoon of plain yogurt (starter)

Boil the milk and cool until lukewarm. Add yogurt; stir it and put the lid on. Wrap it in a dry towel and follow the above instructions. Do not forget to save one tablespoon of yogurt for your next batch.

Once you taste this natural grigorov yogurt; you will never buy yogurt from the store again. This is extremely nutritious, creamy and delicious. You can use any milk of your choice. It will still make a tasty yogurt. I buy one-gallon milk for $2.00 and make yogurt with a quarter-gallon of milk. Where can you buy 32 oz of pure yogurt for $0.50 cents?

In the winter, I add yogurt to lukewarm milk; in the summer to room temperature milk and there is no need to wrap a towel. Remember, boiling milk is a must.

Note: - When one consumes antibiotics for 3 to 5 days, all the good bacteria gets flushed away from the system. Eating 4 oz natural yogurt for three weeks, compensates it.