Why Is Yogurt Good For Women?

Yogurt, a fermented dairy product, has a tart flavor and a pudding-like texture. It is a popular dairy product in many parts of the world. Versatile, nutritious and protein-rich, yogurt is a particularly healthy food choice for women. It is rich in nutrients important for developing and maintaining strong bones. It boosts immunity, eases arthritis and is rich in healthy bacteria, which help prevent vaginal yeast infections.

Bone-Building Nutrients

Yogurt may be a better bone-building food than other dairy products. It is an excellent source of calcium. An 8-ounce serving meets, on average, 30 percent of the recommended daily value for this major mineral. Fermented milk products such as yogurt contain lactoferrin. According to a research article published in the journal Endocrinology in 2004, lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that boosts osteoblasts, cells that build bone. Lactoferrin also reduces the rate at which osteoblasts die and decreases the formation of osteoclasts, which are the cells responsible for breaking down bone.

Immunity Booster

The objective of a study published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism in February 2006 was to compare the benefits of consuming a probiotic and yogurt. Thirty-three healthy women were divided into two groups. For two weeks they took 100 grams daily of either a probiotic or a commercially available yogurt. During the next two weeks they took 200 grams or a probiotic or yogurt. During the final three weeks they consumed no fermented food. The researchers found that daily yogurt consumption stimulated cellular immune function as well as the more expensive probiotic.

Inflammation Deterrent

Lactobacillus, the active culture in yogurt has a beneficial effect on inflammatory disease. According to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition in August 2004, laboratory animals fed yogurt with large amounts of lactobacilli had the least amount of arthritic inflammation. Laboratory animals fed plain yogurt without added lactobacilli experienced only moderate inflammation. Milk, unlike yogurt, had no effect on inflammation.

Yeast Infection Reduction

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 1992 found that women who consumed yogurt daily for six months had as much as a threefold decrease in vaginal infections. The lactobacillus acidophilus in yogurt helps prevent the growth of vaginal yeast.

Considerations

For yogurt to offer these health benefits, you must select and store it properly. Because dairy products such as yogurt are pasteurized, harmful bacteria are killed but so are the healthy bacteria. To fully reap the benefits of yogurt, buy varieties that feature the claim "live active cultures" on the label. Choose yogurts free of artificial flavorings, colors and sweeteners. Keep yogurt stored in the refrigerator in its original container. If unopened, yogurt lasts approximately one week past the expiration date, according to Clemson University.