Why live yogurt bacteria are good
Dairy products with added bacteria for good digestion. Some people are horrified at the idea. Few people realize that yogurt, for example, already contains living bacteria. And they are good for our intestinal flora.
We all want to eat healthy and varied food. Dairy should certainly not be missing in a healthy diet. A bowl of yogurt contributes to the feeling of ‘being kind to your body’. And rightly so, because yogurt is a supplier of many healthy nutrients. And – naturally – also from good bacteria.
Yogurt is a milk product that has been fermented and acidified in a controlled manner. The word comes from the Turkish yoğurt, which is associated with the adjective ‘yoğun’ (‘thick’) and the verb yoğurmak, which means ‘to knead’.
Fermented
Yogurt is fermented. This means that the lactose has been converted into lactic acids by lactic acid bacteria. This makes it easier to digest, which is beneficial for the intestinal flora and the gut. The fermentation of the yogurt is done by adding two lactic acid bacteria, the so-called live yogurt culture:
– The rod-shaped Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgarian
– The globular Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus
If there is too much or too little of any of the above, it is called fermented milk or fermented milk drink and the end product should not be called yogurt.
Easier to digest
As mentioned, yogurt is easier to digest than, for example, milk, this is due to the action of both bacteria in the yogurt. Yogurt promotes the digestion of lactose or milk sugar in people with milk intolerance. Not only that, because it also speeds up gastric emptying and stimulates intestinal transit. And finally, yogurt supports the work of the intestinal flora.
What are probiotics?
The term probiotics comes from Greek. It comes from ‘pro bios’ and means ‘in favor of life’. Probiotics are added to dairy products to improve the intestinal flora. This group includes Bifidus bacteria, Streptococcus and Lactobacillus species that also occur naturally in the human gut. These bacteria are said to survive better in the human digestive system than yogurt bacteria. Prebiotics and synbiotics are also added to some of these fermented milk products.
– probiotics Living micro-organisms that survive the stomach and small intestine and have a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora and/or intestinal function.
– prebiotics Indigestible food components (eg fiber) that stimulate the growth or activity of the probiotics in the large intestine.
– synbiotics Products containing probiotics and prebiotics.
Functional food
Dairy products to which probiotics have been added are called functional food. The packaging of products with probiotics sometimes contains claims such as alleviating intestinal complaints. Other common health effects attributed to probiotics include:
– Inhibiting unwanted bacteria, such as E.coli
– Preventing diarrhea from rotaviruses and Salmonella
– Reduce effects of Candida infections
– positively influence cholesterol metabolism
– Inhibiting, directly or indirectly, the development of colon cancer
– Promote the immune response
– Improved bowel movements
– Promote the absorption of minerals, especially calcium
– Breakdown of lactose, important in lactose intolerance
In particular, the claims for diarrhoea, helping with lactose intolerance, improving bowel movements and inhibiting candida infections have been extensively studied and scientifically substantiated. Experts are also very enthusiastic about the effect of probiotics in intestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ADHD and, for example, just before or during a course of antibiotics. At the moment, the scientific evidence for this is not yet sufficient for the European Food Safety Authority (ESFA) to be allowed to make these claims. This is often due to the size of the studies conducted or the fact that not enough studies have yet been carried out on (sufficient) people.
Manufacturers may only use a claim if it is on a list of approved claims. The list of approved claims is compiled by EFSA.
Health Benefits of Yogurt
Of course, the above is not the only reason to eat yogurt. The nutrients in this dairy product are very important for the body: vitamins B2, B11, B12 and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and zinc.
Fats in yogurt
The conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in full-fat yogurt cannot be produced by the human body and must be absorbed through food. It has a good influence on cardiovascular diseases, reduces the storage of body fat and has a beneficial effect on bad cholesterol levels.
Furthermore, yogurt is distinguished by the fat percentage:
Full-fat yogurt contains at least 3% fat.
Semi-skimmed yogurt contains 1 to 3% fat.
Low-fat yogurt contains less than 1% fat.
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