Yogurt that contains live cultures of the bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus is permitted to carry the words "contains live and active cultures" on the label. These microorganisms carry out the fermentation process that produces yogurt from pasteurized milk. Live cultures have a number of health benefits, aiding in digestion, immune defense and colon health.
Improve Digestion
Many individuals with lactose intolerance cannot tolerate milk but are able to eat yogurt without any unpleasant side effects. The live cultures in yogurt produce lactase, the enzyme that is low or absent in people with lactose deficiency. During the culturing process, the lactose sugars are largely broken down into the components glucose and galactose. The amount of remaining lactose varies among brands but is usually much lower than the amount of lactose in milk.
Colon Health
Your colon contains beneficial bacteria that aid in breaking down harmful substances such as nitrates and nitrites. Eating lactobacteria encourages the growth of these beneficial bacteria. In addition, the calcium in yogurt regulates the growth of cells lining the colon wall and may keep pre-cancerous colon cells in check. A diet that includes yogurt has been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer.
Boost Immunity
The live cultures in yogurt seem to give the immune system a jump start on fighting infections. Bacteria in yogurt stimulates the white blood cells that target and eliminate pathogens. Lactobacteria appear to increase levels of immune factors such as cytokines and interferon. Although additional double-blind studies are needed, there is strong evidence that eating yogurt could be beneficial for groups with compromised immune systems, such as the elderly.
Healing from Infection
Viral infections that cause gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea can damage the intestinal cells that produce lactase enzyme. This may leave you temporarily unable to digest the lactose in milk products. Young children are particularly susceptible to this condition and may require up to one month to restore lactase function. Yogurt containing live cultures is helpful in restoring lactase and speeding the healing process.
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