The word yoghurt comes from Turkey and refers to tart, thick milk. Yogurt starts as fresh milk or cream. Yoghurt also spelled yogurt, yogourt or yoghourt, is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk .It is often first pasteurized, then fermented with various live bacteria cultures, and incubated at a specific temperature to encourage bacteria growth. When fresh milk is left in a container with friendly bacteria, the milk thickens and develops a delicious, sour taste. The lactic acid produced by the fermentation process also acts as a preservative, helping the cultured milk stay fresh longer. The culture ferments the lactose, the natural sugar found in milk. This produces lactic acid, which gives yoghurt its distinctive flavor.
Yoghurt helps protecting against osteoporosis to relieving irritable bowel disease and aiding digestion, but these depend on the type of yoghurt one consumes. Yoghurts contain active, living bacteria known as probiotics, they also contain calcium, vitamins B6 and B12, riboflavin, potassium, and magnesium.
A few health benefits of eating yoghurt are:
- Improves Digestion:
Consuming yoghurt every day, keeps our bowel movements regular and improves our body’s flora. It kills the harmful bacteria in the gut and makes our digestive system healthier.
Yoghurt is also found to be effective in lactose intolerance, constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
- Natural Immunity Booster:
Regular consumption of yoghurt enhances our immune system and protects our body from a variety of infections. Yoghurt effectively fights against gastrointestinal infections, respiratory issues like common cold, flu and even cancer.
Magnesium, selenium and zinc in yoghurt also improve immunity.
- Reduces risk of Cancer:
Yoghurt has anti-carcinogenic properties and is known to protect our body from colon, bladder and breast cancer.
- Regulates Blood Sugar Levels:
Regular consumption of homemade, unsweetened yoghurt helps to regulate blood sugar levels and is very good for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
· Good for Bones:
Yoghurt is a rich source of calcium, thus making it ideal for improving bone health. Regular consumption of yoghurt, preserves bone mass and strength, thus reducing the risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
· Reduces Inflammation:
Daily consumption of yoghurt reduces inflammation in the body. Inflammation is responsible for most autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer and arthritis.
· Reduces High Blood Pressure and Risk of Heart Diseases:
Consuming yoghurt on a regular basis has shown to reduce blood pressure which is a major risk factor for diseases of the heart.
Thus, yoghurt results in reducing the risk of heart diseases.
· Reduces Appetite and Weight:
The high protein content of yoghurt makes us feel full, reduces our appetite and thus decreases our calorie consumption. This, in turn, promotes weight loss.
· Reduces Depression:
Probiotics in yoghurt help in reducing anxiety and stress, thus making patients with depression feel better.
- Reduces Symptoms of Allergy:
Consuming yoghurt reduces the number of antibodies produced by our immune system in response to any kind of allergy. Probiotics present in yoghurt are responsible for this action
Thus, adding a cup of yoghurt to your daily life will bring you a whole bunch of healthy benefits.
