Probiotic yogurt, or yogurt containing live and active cultures, has different types of bacteria which are beneficial to your health. Yogurt is a product made with bacterial cultures in a dairy base. Probiotic yogurt goes one step further by adding additional beneficial bacteria to the mix. This gives many health benefits, including better nutrition, help with digestion, and a strengthened immune system. (It also tastes great.) Read on to find out more about probiotic yogurt, where to buy it, and why you should add it to your diet.
Most yogurt is made from one or two strains of bacteria: Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. These two have been the foundation of yogurt for thousands of years. There are others, but pretty much all the yogurt you find in the supermarket contains one or both of these. Probiotic yogurt contains a third strain, L. acidophilus. This is where the difference from regular yogurt comes in. L. acidophilus adds some health benefits which are shared by other probiotic foods:
- Probiotics can help maximize digestion of some nutrients our body needs. For some people, this can be a lifesaver. Promoting the full digestion of nutrients can help those with allergies or weak immune systems, since the body sometimes tries to fight off beneficial items in our gut. Those suffering from eczema, hay fever, or other types of allergies may see a benefit from consuming yogurt with probiotics.
- Some lactose intolerant people report that probiotic yogurt helps with their condition. This might be because of the additional bacteria which help break down the dairy products that cause trouble.
- People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sometimes get relief from including probiotic yogurt in their diet.
- Since probiotics help increase available nutrients by aiding digestion, the immune system is boosted by regularly eating probiotic foods. This means fewer infections and illnesses. If you are prone to sickness, eating more yogurt may help your immune system fight off invaders.
- Since digestive troubles can make us unhappy and irritable, another benefit to probiotic yogurt is a better mood. Did you know that there are millions and millions of nerve endings in your large and small intestines? Keeping your GI track happy will make you a happier person.
- Probiotic foods can lower our stress level.
Probiotic yogurt is certainly good for you, but don't forget that it's just one part of a healthy lifestyle. When eaten together with a healthy, balanced diet, yogurt can be a great supplement to your routine. Other important activities in your life, like regular exercise and good hygiene, are just as important to your happiness and health.
Probiotic Yogurt Brands
There are many brands of probiotic yogurt on the market today, and several new ones are becoming quite popular. The most well recognized is probably Activia from Dannon. Activia contains Bifidus Regularis, which has been shown to help with slow transit in the intestines when eaten regularly. If you're new to probiotic yogurt and looking for a quick and easy way to add it to your diet, Activia is a great choice.
Another Dannon product, Danactive, is a probiotic yogurt drink which is marketed to help boost your immune system. Danactive is a bit like a kefir type yogurt in that you can drink it easily. That means it's great for travel. You can pack it in a lunch, eat it after a work out, take it to school or work, or just drink it at home. Danactive comes in several great flavors that both children and adults enjoy.
From Yoplait there's Yo-Plus, another product marketed to help with digestion. Yo-Plus is a low fat yogurt which contains a probiotic element as well as extra fiber to promote good intestinal health. Again, the yogurt has a great flavor and texture, and your whole family will enjoy it.