Activia is a yogurt product made by the Dannon Company, which makes and sells 6 million cups of nearly 100 yogurt flavors per day, according to the company's website. Activia is one of Dannon's top-selling brands and is endorsed by the actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The yogurt is marketed as a solution to help regulate your digestive system through the bacteria bifidus regularis, which is though to offer health benefits.
Activia
The yogurt Activia is designed to regulate the digestive system naturally through the use of probiotic microorganisms. Many yogurts, including Activia, contain such live cultures. For a yogurt product to receive the "Live Active Culture" seal on its package, the yogurt must contain at least 10 viable lactic acid bacteria per gram, according to MSNBC.com. Activia's website claims that each 4-oz. serving meets those requirements and provides you with enough of the live culture to help regulate your digestive system.
Bifidus Regularis
Probiotics are often referred to as "friendly" or "good" bacteria, and provide your body with health benefits when adequate amounts of the bacteria are present in the system. The probiotic bifidus regularis that is found in Activia yogurt, is able to survive passage into your digestive system where it delivers its benefits. According to the Activia website, eating one serving of the yogurt daily for two weeks straight can help regulate your digestive system, as well as boost your immune system and reduce constipation. "Bifidus regularis" is a marketing name trademarked by the Dannon Company. The probiotic culture is known scientifically as bifidobacterium lactis.
How Probiotics Work
Probiotics effectively work to fight off bad bacteria. Once consumed, probiotics shift the pH levels in your intestines and promote a higher acidic environment. This change in pH levels makes the intestines a less-desirable place for pathogenic bacteria, or "bad" bacteria. An increase of "friendly bacteria" encourages the production of lactic and acetic acids, which in turn creates an increase of beneficial bacteria in your system. Not all probiotic strains work the same. The strain bifidus regularis in Activia is specifically designed to improve gastrointestinal functions.
Product Information
Dannon's Activia is available in various products and flavors. Products include regular Activia, Activia Fiber, Activia Light, Activia Drinks, Activia 24-oz. Tubs, Activia Dessert and Activia Parfait Crunch. Regular Activia yogurt flavors include strawberry, cherry, blueberry, mixed berry, peach, prune and vanilla, and are available individually or in four-, eight-,12- and 24-packs. Regular Activia yogurts contain 120 calories per serving, which equals 113 g. Additionally, there are 2 g of total fat, 5 mg of cholesterol, 60 mg of sodium, 150 mg of potassium, 22 g or carbohydrates, of which 18 g come from sugars, and 4 g of protein in each serving of Activia yogurt.
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