Yogurt is made from fermented milk. Legend has it that an angel taught Abraham how to make yogurt, although its actual historical appearance dates back to around 2,000 B.C, Delia Quigley and Brierley Wright say in the 2008 book, "The Everything Superfoods Book." Yogurt derives from the Turkish word "yoghurmak," which means to thicken. It is considered one of the world's healthiest foods for several reasons.
Probiotic
Yogurts are naturally probiotic as they generally have live and active cultures present. In the 2007 book, "The Probiotics Revolution," Gary Huffnagle and Sarah Wernick say yogurt contains standard strains of Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. Several yogurt varieties labeled "probiotic" also contain additional friendly bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria. All probiotics present in yogurt are naturally occurring flora in the human gastrointestinal tract.
Health Benefits
Since yogurt is a milk-based product, it is an excellent source of calcium -- the mineral necessary to keep bones and teeth strong. The probiotics in yogurt also help promote regularity, weight loss and may even help to raise high-density lipoprotein, although further research is necessary, Allison Tannis says in the 2008 book "Probiotic Rescue." Tannis recommends eating 300 g of plain probiotic yogurt to regulate the digestive tract and control cholesterol levels.
Nutritional Facts
Non-fat, plain yogurt is the most nutritive form of yogurt. In many cases, fruit-containing yogurt will contain an excessive amount of sugar -- up to 22 g -- which may not help with your weight loss or health goals. You should consume yogurt made from skim or non-fat milk to avoid unnecessary saturated fat from whole-milk. An 8 oz. serving of plain, non-fat yogurt is about 120 calories with 10 g of sugar. Some non-fat varieties will contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
The Bottom Line
Consuming yogurt as part of a balanced and active lifestyle is healthy. If you steer clear of sugary yogurt varieties, you can easily garner the benefits of good bacteria. If you're lactose-intolerant, you can purchase soy-based yogurt that also contains friendly microorganisms.
References
- "The Everything Superfoods Book"; Delia Quigley and Brierley Wright; 2008
- "The Probiotics Revolution"; Gary Huffnagle and Sarah Wernick; 2007
- "Probiotic Rescue"; Allison Tannis; 2008
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