A Healthy Diet with Yogurt Probiotics
According to nutrition and health experts, a healthy diet includes whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, plenty of fluids, is high in fiber and low in sugar and saturated fats. However, there's another item that is quickly gaining inclusion - probiotics.
Probiotics, or "friendly bacteria," have been finding their way into a host of foods and beverages, with yogurt being the most popular product choice by far for manufacturers and customers alike. However, while probiotics in yogurt, often referred to as "yogurt probiotics," may be the most widely-accepted way to add probiotics to a person's diet, yogurt probiotics simply may not be the most efficient means to support digestive health. This is because the probiotic strains chosen to be included in yogurt are often very vulnerable and never reaches the intestinal tract - the intended target for any probiotic. Dietary supplements are often a more efficient delivery system for probiotics. To learn more, read our article on probiotic yogurt.
How Yogurt Probiotics Can Benefit Intestinal Health
Your intestines are home to over 400 species of flora, or bacteria. The intestinal flora contains many kinds of bacteria that constantly interact with each other. While the goal is to maintain a balance among the bacteria, unfortunately, a person may experience digestive distress, including occasional diarrhea, cramps and gas and bloating. Replenishing the levels of beneficial bacteria can help maintain a healthy balance of intestinal flora. Consuming yogurt probiotics is one way to help maintain this bacterial balance.
Plus, a regular consumption of probiotics has been shown to create a more favorable environment for nutrient absorption - which can have a positive effect on overall health as well.
Are Yogurt Probiotics a Substitute for Probiotic or Dietary Supplements?
While probiotic yogurt and probiotic supplements both contain probiotics that can help with digestive health, probiotic yogurt provides nutritional benefits that a probiotic or dietary supplement does not. For example, probiotic yogurt is a good source of calcium, especially for people who have trouble digesting dairy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Nutrition Database, 1 cup or 8-ounces of plain, low-fat yogurt provides 154 calories, 4 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 12 g protein, 17 g carbohydrates and 171 mg sodium. Yogurt is also rich in several vitamins and minerals. One cup meets 23% of the Recommended Daily Value or DV for Vitamin B12, 35% for riboflavin or Vitamin B2, 16% for potassium, 35% for phosphorus and 45% for calcium. In addition, Lactobacillus acidophilus, a probiotic that is included in many yogurts, has been known to help with absorption of nutrients.
On the other hand, the probiotic bacteria in probiotic supplements do not need to be refrigerated, making them a more convenient choice over yogurt probiotics for someone focusing on probiotics.
In conclusion, probiotic yogurt and probiotic supplements each play a unique role when included as a part of balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.
1 http://www.livestrong.com/article/948-facts-health-benefits-yogurt/. Accessed July 8, 2010.
