Why Yogurt Is One of The Healthiest Foods You Can Eat

Why Yogurt Is One of The Healthiest Foods You Can Eat
Page content

Did you know that yogurt is one of the healthiest foods you can eat? Nutritionists have recommended it for years since they know about its healthy properties. It’s a well-known fact that yogurt contains friendly bacteria that strengthens the body’s ability to fight disease.

In order for you to obtain the health properties of yogurt nutrition, you need to select yogurt that has live bacteria in it.

What is yogurt?

When bacterial cultures are added to milk, lactose is converted into lactic acid. This is what makes yogurt tart with a texture similar to pudding.

You can buy it in the grocery store and it comes in a number of different flavors. It’s easy to obtain yogurt since it’s available year-round. It’s also a quick and easy snack and many people like its tart flavor. Plain yogurt is healthier than the flavored kinds. You can buy yogurt with fruit mixed throughout it, but this kind of yogurt contains additional sugar. One of the best choices is organic yogurt.

You should avoid buying pasteurized yogurt products since pasteurization not only kills harmful bacteria in the yogurt, but it also kills the friendly bacteria in yogurt. This friendly bacteria is good for your digestive tract. The result is that pasteurized yogurt isn’t as good for you. When you purchase yogurt, take a look at the label and make sure that it contains live active cultures. Yogurt with living organisms in it is known as probiotic yogurt.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are living beneficial bacteria and need to be in your large intestine for optimal health. Yogurt can contain living bacteria if it hasn’t been pasteurized which kills all the bacteria – even the good kind. A Russian scientist discovered the concept of “good” bacteria around 1907.

What is the bacteria in yogurt called?

According to an article on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration web site, the bacteria in yogurt are called Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.