What Makes Yogurt So Healthy?

One of the many reasons yogurt is so healthy is because of the many vitamins and nutrients it contains.

• Over 50% of the Daily Recommended Value of iodine

• More than 30% of vitamin B2 (riboflavin), phosphorus, calcium

• Between 20-30% of protein, vitamin B12 and tryptophan

• Between 15-20% of potassium, zinc, molybdenum and vitamin B5

Let's look at what this creamy white delicacy can do for you:

Fights infections and cancer causing cells

When purchasing yogurt you want to make sure it contains live active cultures. The live active cultures help boost the immune system, which fights off infection. Women who have yeast infections or tend to get them can eat it for prevention measures.

Yogurt that contains probiotics, good or health promoting bacteria, stimulates cellular immunity. Cellular immunity is our body's first line of defense against infections. Eating yogurt everyday can serve as protection against parasites, yeast, infections and cancer causing cells.

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that women who ate at least 4 servings daily were found to have a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Eating whole-fat yogurt along with other full-fat dairy products contain a protective fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is known to be cardioprotective. Eating yogurt with pobiotics can help raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels while signifcantly reducing the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

Lowers Body Fat

All the buzz lately about dairy products helping you to lose weight really does hold true. According to a study published in Obesity Research calcium rich foods have weight loss benefits.

If you're tyring to lose weight, especially around your waistline, eating more calcium-rich foods, especially low fat dairy foods such as cow's milk and yogurt really do help.

Strengthen Bones

Not only does it contain calcium but also an iron-building protein called lactoferrin. Lactoferrin boosts the activity of bone building cells. This is especially important for women and girls going through puberty with growth spurts.

Helps Ulcers

Yogurt containing the probiotcs Lactobaciullus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis helps stop the enzyme that infects the stomach lining.

Bad Breath

Recent studies report that six ounces daily can help fight bad breath. The live active cultures suppress the odor causing compounds on your tongue. Another good reason to eat it! A new study finds that eating Dannon's Activia yogurt (which I eat everyday) improved constipation in women ages 18 to 55. Other research show yogurt may help significantly for those suffering with irritable bowel syndrome, which I can atest to that!

Diarrhea

Eating 2 cups a day helps prevent travelr's diarrhea, according to Manfred Kroger, an Institute of Food Technologists spokeperson.

Allergies

In an Italian study children who ate 3 1/2 ounces of yogurt with L. Casei, good bacteria, a day for a year had fewer attacks of allergic rhinitis or hay fever. In addition, a Finnish study proved that pregnant women who ate probiotics from the eighth month had babies with less allergies.

The bottom line is that this is one healthy dairy product that you may want to add to your daily diet!

Be sure to look for "Live & Active Cultures" on the labels to get the necessary probiotics. Also, to lower calories and fat buy the plain yogurt and add your own fruit such as blueberries, blackberries or bananas to make it an extra nutritious treat!

A Remedy To Remember: “But whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God, the Creator of all light, and He shines forever without change or shadow.” James 1:17

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