Contents
Medicinal properties of yogurt
Probiotic effects of yogurt
All the modifications that the raw material, that is, milk, has undergone until it becomes yogurt entails a series of differences between the benefits of yogurt and the benefits of milk.
Some of the benefits of yogurt are common to almost all existing varieties of yogurt, but others will be determined by the differences between the yogurts and by their added properties.
Medicinal properties of yogurt?
Yogurt with raspberries and almonds |
The main healing properties of yogurt come from its probiotic effect. That is, thanks to its content of live microorganisms that repopulate the intestinal flora, yogurt improves intestinal function and, consequently, nutrient absorption. It also helps maintain a protective barrier against unwanted microorganisms and boosts immunity. In short, it helps protect our defenses.
Its consumption is beneficial, especially in situations such as the following:
- In organisms with intestinal flora altered by antibiotic administration: Antibiotics eliminate harmful microbes but also kill organisms beneficial to the body, which favors the development of harmful organisms.
It often happens that, after undergoing very strong or very prolonged antibiotic treatments, patients may suffer from problems such as diarrhea, the development of harmful bacteria in the mouth that produce sores, lack of physical vigor, etc.
- An improper diet or even too much stress can affect our body.
- Lactose intolerance problems: Thanks to its fermentation, lactose is transformed into lactic acid, which gives properties that improve the ease of digesting and tolerating food in people who are lactose intolerant.
- Malnourished people: It is a source with a high content of nutrients and will therefore contribute to an adequate diet without nutritional deficiencies.
Beneficial effects of different types of yogurt
Some yogurts have added nutrients to enhance their flavors or textures. In these cases, only their nutritional composition and the benefits these nutrients provide change. Examples include liquid yogurts with fruit, cream, cereals, etc.
However, there are other types of yogurts that have been modified to obtain additional benefits beyond their intrinsic properties. These are called “functional foods” and are those to which a greater quantity of a nutrient has been added in order to maximize their benefit, or to which a substance or nutrient beneficial to our body has been added that the food did not previously contain.
Therefore, we can consider some yogurts to be functional foods. Examples include:
Table of different types of yogurt and their healing properties | |
Fortified yogurt | Indications |
With soluble fiber | Constipation, diarrhea, gas |
With calcium | Osteoporosis, weakness and maintenance in bones and teeth |
With L.casei immunitas | Low immunity. Boost your defenses: infections, flu |
With bifidobacteria: Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus | Repopulate intestinal flora and improve intestinal transit and the body’s immunity |
With soy | Increase protein intake |
With sweeteners | Reduce sugar intake. In cases of diabetes, obesity, etc. |
Lactose-free | Improve your tolerance. Lactose intolerance |
More information on yogurt, milk and its derivatives
