Yogurt Nutrition
Yogurt Nutrition - A great source of protein and calcium.
Sure, yogurt tastes great and makes a good snack or can even enhance a healthy breakfast or recipe, but what exactly are the benefits of yogurt?
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The health benefits of yogurt are so impressive that many health-conscious people make it a daily habit.
YOGURT NUTRITION NOTES:
Yogurt nutrition is a high quality source of protein which is made from milk that has been fermented using a mixture of yeast bacteria. The fermentation process gives yogurt its custard-like texture. Lactobacillus acidophilus and other "friendly" bacteria are necessary for the digestion of foods and the prevention of many disorders. The digestive tract contains certain bacteria that is beneficial to the body. These bacteria aid in the digestion of food and are necessary in the production of certain vitamins, especially the B vitamins. These bacteria are responsible for maintaining a normal flora in the digestive tract, and also prevent the growth of pathogens (undesirable microorganisms that can cause disease). Yogurt contains these beneficial bacteria. Yogurt also contains vitamins A and D, as well as the B complex.
Do you want to gain the benefit of
some yogurt nutrition?Use yogurt in place of mayonnaise.
For recipes such as, potato salad, tuna salad, coleslaw, pasta salads,
dips and etc., combine equal portions of mayonnaise and yogurt.Cooking with yogurt is a healthy alternative to sour cream.
It is much lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol.
If you're adding it to a sauce in place of sour cream,
heat it over very low heat so it doesn't curdle. Try yogurt in baking recipes.
Plain yogurt can often be substituted for milk, buttermilk, or sour cream
in recipes for waffles, pancakes, and muffins. Substitute yogurt for ice cream.
Yogurt shakes and smoothies are a low-fat alternative to ice cream.Stir in a tablespoon of ground flaxseed.
A tablespoon of ground flaxseed will add almost 3 grams
of fiber and approximately 2 grams of healthy plant omega-3s.
One of the words you’ll be hearing more of in relation to yogurt is ''probiotics.'' Probiotic, which literally means ''for life,'' refers to living organisms that can result in a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.To get the most benefits of yogurt, which is store bought, look for a "Live and Active Cultures" seal on the label. This indicates a live starter culture was used. Read labels because the longer the ingredients list, the more calories you get and the less yogurt nutrition. Avoid yogurt that says "heat treated after culturing" on the label. This means that the yogurt was pasteurized after the healthful organisms were added, which dilutes the health benefits of the yogurt. Pasteurization deactivates the lactase and kills the live cultures, thereby obliterating two health benefits of yogurt.
Ounce for ounce, plain yogurt, especially fresh, is more nutritious than store-bought fruit-laden ones. Do not use artificially sweetened and flavored yogurt containing added sugar and preservatives from the supermarket. Sugar feeds unwanted bacteria. Instead, you can either purchase fresh natural yogurt from a health food store or make it yourself. Store-bought plain yogurt contains about one half the calories of the flavored yogurts and contains almost twice the amount of proteins. Plain yogurt contains more calcium, fewer fillers and contains no added sugar. Take the plain yogurt and flavor it with fresh fruit. Stir in chopped fruit or whirl in the blender. Experiment with flavored extracts. For example, use crushed pineapple (canned in its' own juice) and coconut extract or unsweetened coconut and you have a pina colada. This way, you have control over your yogurt nutrition.
Yogurt is much easier to digest than milk. Many people are lactose intolerant, and can not consume dairy products, and yogurt is much easier on the stomach. This is because yogurt is cultured, which means that yogurt contains the digestive enzyme, lactase -- the enzyme that lactose intolerant individuals do not have. Eating yogurt on a regular basis can help you to absorb the nutrients in other foods as well. For example, eating yogurt helps the body to absorb calcium and B-vitamins more readily, so you can get the most nutritional value out of your meals. In turn, yogurt can also boost your immune system, since you are able to take in the maximum nutritional value of foods, which makes your body better equipped to fight off toxins Freshly made yogurt is filled with countless numbers of beneficial bacteria that help digestion and kill harmful viruses. The key here is fresh yogurt as compared to commercial store bought yogurt.
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