Yogurt and the Probiotics Connection

Twenty years ago in America, all kinds of bacteria were considered bad. They caused diseases, made us sick and we took antibiotics to get rid of the “bad” bacteria. But in Europe and other parts of the world, they were also open to the idea that there is some bacteria that is good, and they were actually starting to include it in their products – like yogurt.

A few years ago Dannon started to market Activia – a special kind of yogurt that promoted digestive health. This added digestive health is from “good” bacteria called probiotics that have been added to the yogurt. And while Dannon’s product is fairly new in the U.S., it has actually been available in Europe and other countries since 1987.

Digestive health may not be fun to talk about, but it’s essential to our overall health. One reason it is so important is because 50-70% of our immune system is based in the digestive tract, and when our immune systems are compromised, we make ourselves more available to diseases. Probiotic foods such as yogurt have been shown to help reduce instances of diarrhea and relieve constipation. Staying regular is very important to keeping your body healthy.

Right now, probiotics are being marketed mainly has having digestive health benefits. But there are other benefits to including some probiotic food in your diet. Research has shown that probiotics can help prevent colorectal cancer. Scientists are still trying to determine which strain of bacteria are the most beneficial for this cancer prevention. But they have found that probiotics can reduce the number of cancer-causing enzymes found in the digestive tract.

Probiotics like those found in yogurt, are thought to have many possibilities for helping improve our health and prevent certain diseases. Right now, there is still ongoing research to find out to what extent probiotics can help improve our immune system. This may even be a key element for patients with HIV. Some experts believe that probiotics can help the immune system regulate itself when it’s attacked.

There is also another study being conducted on the effect of probiotics and allergies and asthma. Scientists are trying to show that if infants are exposed to more bacteria at a younger age, the immune system will be less sensitive and react less to common allergens.

Eating more yogurt is a good way to increase your intake of probiotics, calcium and protein, and various other live and active cultures. You can also find probiotic supplements and even some fermented teas that include probiotic elements to help increase your nutritional benefits.