By
Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
Retrieved
from WebMD
Have you noticed that the yogurt
section of most grocery stores has practically taken over the dairy aisle? It’s
getting harder to find more traditional dairy foods, such as cottage cheese and
sour cream, amid the sea of yogurt options. But it only makes sense that a food
with as many health benefits as yogurt be given prime real estate in the
supermarket.
And just what are the health benefits
of yogurt?
First off, your body needs to have a
healthy amount of ''good'' bacteria in the digestive tract, and many yogurts
are made using active, good bacteria. One of the words you’ll be hearing more
of in relation to yogurt is ''probiotics.'' Probiotic, which literally means
''for life,'' refers to living organisms that can result in a health benefit
when eaten in adequate amounts.
Miguel Freitas, PhD, medical marketing
manager for Dannon Co., says the benefits associated with probiotics are specific
to certain strains of these "good" bacteria. Many provide their
benefits by adjusting the microflora (the natural balance of organisms) in the
intestines, or by acting directly on body functions, such as digestion or
immune function. (Keep in mind that the only yogurts that contain probiotics
are those that say "live and active cultures" on the label.)
And let us not forget
that yogurt comes from milk. So yogurt eaters will also get a dose of animal
protein (about 9 grams per 6-ounce serving), plus several other nutrients found
in dairy foods, like calcium, vitamin B-2, B-12, potassium, and magnesium.
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