Boost Your Health With Yogurt (And Useful Tips On How To Pick The Right One!)

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Yogurt is a popular food in the United States, and it is one of the most popular options when it comes to supplementing your diet with probiotics. The health benefits of yogurt are many; in fact, you can get a wide range of impacts to your health just by having a serving of yogurt every day.

The main reason that yogurt has these health benefits is because of the presence of probiotics. Probiotics can help “reset” your digestive system and boost the presence of “good” bacteria in your digestive tract.

We all have bacteria in our digestive systems and each individual has a unique blend of these bacteria. Most of the strains are good for us, others just hang out, and some strains of bacteria can become a problem if they’re allowed to grow or bloom. It is critical to have a balance of bacteria in your gut and when that balance is upset, it can lead to other issues that impact your physical and mental health.

Many things can cause the delicate balance in our guts to go out of whack. Some things that contribute to these imbalances include a poor diet, anxiety, or drinking too much. When these factors combine, they can kill the bacteria that is beneficial and allow harmful bacteria to grow. To get things back to normal, you need to reset with probiotics.

The single best place to get your daily dose of probiotics is through yogurt. If you have issues with dairy, or if you are lactose intolerant, you’re in luck — yogurt doesn’t have lactose so you can consume it without any issue and still reap the benefits of probiotics.

 

Top Benefits of Yogurt

Yogurt has some incredible health benefits including the ability to reduce the likelihood that you’ll succumb from diseases like heart problems or even cancer. The scientific data also stands by this showing that those who eat yogurt regularly have a lower mortality and higher longevity than those who don’t.

Eating yogurt also helps build your bones. Studies have shown that this is especially true for females when compared to males.

If you’re prone to diabetes, yogurt can help prevent or reduce the symptoms of diabetes, specifically the Type 2 variety. You can also lower your blood pressure, and the best part is that yogurt is a low-calorie option too. In fact, you can reduce the risk of heart disease, incidences of diabetes, and lower your cholesterol all without ingesting a lot of calories.

Yogurt can also be an effective way to manage your weight and even encourage weight loss. In fact, over the long term, yogurt can help you not only lose weight but maintain your weight over time. Part of the reason yogurt is effective is because it also targets your intestinal health. Yogurt helps encourage digestion and reduce constipation. All of these components are essential for weight maintenance and overall health.

Continue to Page 2

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Photo credit: bigstock.com

Improve Physical and Mental Health

If you are prone to colds or suffer from frequent health issues, yogurt can be an easy way to supplement your diet while improving your condition. In fact, the healing powers of yogurt have been confirmed by at least two separate scientific studies. The results of each study suggested that those who ate yogurt regularly were less likely to catch a cold, and this was especially true during flu season. You can also improve your mental health on top of your physical.

You can also safeguard your health with the ingestion of probiotics found in common yogurt brands. Studies have shown that yogurt protects people who are vulnerable to environmental factors including pollutants and even heavy metals.

 

How to Pick the Best Yogurt

Yogurt is a common item in the grocery store, but how do you buy the best type? Many yogurts contain excess sugar and preservatives, especially brands geared toward children. In order to get the most out of the yogurt you purchase, be sure to look for active cultures and check for a certifying label on the container.

If you are handy in the kitchen you can also try making your own homemade yogurt. It is actually very easy and economical.

 

READ ALSO: 15 Herbs that Boost Lung Health

 

Follow these instructions, and you’ll be on your way to better health and wellbeing with a little effort.

References:

www.health.harvard.edu

www.ajcn.nutrition.org

//