The Culture of Yogurt

Yogurt has gotten a lot of good press in recent years primarily due to the active bacterial cultures that are a part of this unique food. I often receive questions regarding the validity of these claims to their attributes. So what's the scoop? Researchers are exploring how yogurt and its cultures may have a beneficial effect on the immune system and how yogurt may help play a role in reducing cholesterol levels and preventing certain diseases.

Potential health attributes associated with eating yogurt go beyond protein and calcium according to a report out of Tufts University. According to an article from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition yogurt may help make the immune system more resilient. Eating yogurt may help protect the intestinal tract and there are promising indicators that there may be positive effects on other chronic conditions. This is believed to be due in part to the live, active cultures found in yogurt. How?

• Enzyme in yogurt help improve lactose tolerance by acting as the enzyme in the gut that digests lactose.
• Yeast infections were decreased in yogurt eaters as reported by another study (Annals of Internal Medicine).
• Babies are less likely to experience childhood diarrhea if fed breast milk uninterrupted throughout infancy compared to infants who consume non-human milks. That's because the lactose in human milk is much easier to digest than cow or goat milk formulas. The exception to this rule is fermented milk products - yogurt-based foods.
• Populations in Mediterranean regions experience lower incidences of CHD, some cancers and other diet related diseases due in part to the prevalence of yogurt in the diet pointing to a cultural model for healthy eating.

The active cultures in yogurt are considered "probiotics" which are live bacteria that are beneficial to health if there are enough of them. The intestine is kept healthy if it maintains enough good bacteria. There is no doubt that yogurt is a healthy food due in part to the active cultures it contains. Different bacterial strains are effective for different health functions. The science of probiotics is still emerging so that definitive claims are premature. Keep tuned for emerging science that will help to expand our knowledge. In the meantime...

Happy, Healthy Eating,

Marcia