In 2006, consumers in more than 50 countries around the world ate 185 cups of Activia yogurt every second, according to the manufacturer's website. Made like other yogurts with live and active bacterial cultures, Activia also contains a trademarked probiotic bacteria called Bifidus regularis that purportedly helps to regulate the digestive system. Like other yogurts, Activia is more digestible for lactose intolerant individuals than other dairy products.
Yogurt
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, yogurt comes from fermenting warm pasteurized milk with two strains of live bacteria cultures -- Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The fermentation process produces the lactic acid that gives yogurt its tangy taste. The nutritional value of yogurt varies depending on the fat content of the milk used to make it, as well as the type of sweetener and other flavorings added to it.
Lactose
Dairy products contain varying amounts of lactose, the primary sugar in milk. An 8-oz. serving of milk or yogurt, for example, contains 12 to 13 g of lactose while a 1-oz. serving of hard cheese contains only 2 to 3 g of lactose, according to Frank W. Jackson, M.D. A few manufacturers produce lactose-free or reduced-lactose dairy products by adding lactase enzyme to the product or by filtering the lactose out.
Lactose Intolerance
Foods containing lactose normally break down in the small intestine with the help of the enzyme lactase. The resulting simple sugars -- glucose and galactose -- move quickly into the bloodstream to be used for energy. Lactose intolerant individuals, however, do not produce enough lactase enzyme so the undigested food moves into the colon. Bacteria in the colon break the food down, causing mild to severe bloating, gas and diarrhea between 30 minutes and two hours after ingesting lactose.
Yogurt and Lactose Intolerance
If you have lactose intolerance, you may be able to eat yogurt without experiencing gas, bloating and other digestive symptoms because the bacteria added during fermentation help digest the lactose or milk sugar. Activia, like all other yogurts containing live and active bacterial cultures, may be appropriate for lactose intolerant individuals but not for those with severe lactose intolerance or a milk allergy, according to the product website.
