Yogurt is even better than skim milk because it has Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, a bacteria that's good for you. These active cultures help digest naturally occurring sugar (lactose) in milk. A great benefit to those who are lactose intolerant.
The Power of Protein
Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Hair and nails are mostly made of protein. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues. You also use protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. Protein is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.
Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is a "macronutrient," meaning that the body needs relatively large amounts of it. Vitamins and minerals, which are needed in only small quantities, are called "micronutrients." But unlike fat and carbohydrates, the body does not store protein, and therefore has no reservoir to draw on when it needs a new supply.
So you may assume the solution is to eat protein all day long. Not so fast, say nutritionists.
The truth is, we need less total protein that you might think. But we could all benefit from getting more protein from better food sources.
Everyone who eats an eight-ounce steak typically served in restaurants is getting more protein that their bodies need. Plus they're getting a hefty amount of artery-clogging saturated fat as well.
(Ref: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/benefits-protein)
But if you use yogurt to source out a portion of your protein needs, you do away with fat that comes with meat. You can get nearly 25 percent of your daily recommended amount of protein with natural yogurt, with 11.9g of protein per 15 oz serving.
The power of Calcium
Your body needs it every day not just to keep your bones and teeth strong over your lifetime, but to ensure proper functioning of muscles and nerves. It even helps your blood clot.
Most people think they are getting enough calcium everyday, but, the fact is, they are not - they're calcium deficient. Calcium deficiency is usually due to an inadequate intake of calcium. When blood calcium levels drop too low, the vital mineral is "borrowed" from the bones. It is returned to the bones from calcium supplied through the diet. The average person loses 400 to 500mg of calcium per day. If an individual's diet is low in calcium, there may not be sufficient amounts of calcium available in the blood to be returned to the bones to maintain strong bones and total body health.
(Ref: http://www.calciuminfo.com)
One 15 oz. serving has 52 percent of your daily calcium needs or 395 mg.
Benefits & Disadvantages of Yogurt
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Benefits and disadvantages of eating yogurtYogurt is a custard-like substance derived from curdled milk and comes in many varieties--plain, natural, unsweetened, organic, sugar-free, flavored and frozen. Yogurt provides several health benefits to the eater, including sometimes promoting good digestive health. But as with virtually any food, there are potential drawbacks as well as benefits to eating certain types of yogurt.
Health Benefits
- The United States Department of Agriculture lists milk products such as yogurt as being highly beneficial in preventing high blood
pressure and building strong bones and teeth. The potassium content found in yogurt helps keep blood pressure at a healthy level, and the calcium content provides the building blocks for proper bone mass and healthy teeth.
According to the Center for Young Women's Health in Boston, eating one cup of yogurt per day can contribute to preventing osteoporosis due to the calcium content and added vitamin D found in yogurt. This is especially true when you start a child on a healthy diet that includes yogurt. - The helpful probiotic found in yogurt, known as Lactobacillus acidophilus, can help the body digest food and balance the good bacteria found in the intestines. Dr. Kimberly Beauchamp of Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle, Washington, states that these probiotic properties of yogurt can assist in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, which is oftentimes caused when hospitalized patients take antibiotics. She cites that balancing the bacteria in the intestines with yogurt is not only safe, it's an effective and inexpensive way to rectify a medicine-induced problem and reduce intestinal inflammation associated with diarrhea.
- Eating yogurt can help prevent the abdominal pain, diarrhea and bloating reactions experienced by lactose intolerant individuals, according to Tufts University School of Medicine researchers. When lactose intolerant people ordinarily consume milk products, the small intestine does not metabolize the lactose, thus leading to allergic reactions. But when lactose intolerant subjects ate yogurt, Tufts researchers found that the fermented milk present in yogurt assisted in proper lactose digestion.
- According to nutritiondata.com, there are about 19 grams of sugar in one cup of plain yogurt made with skim milk. Many flavored varieties of yogurt contain a higher sugar content, depending on the flavor and brand. For some individuals, this quantity of sugar is a drawback, especially if they're on a diet. Thus, some people turn to the sugar-free variety of yogurt, which is often formulated with aspartame. Aspartame has come under quite a bit of scrutiny and controversy, but Mayo Clinic doctors say no real danger has been found in aspartame apart from individuals who suffer from phenylketonuria, a condition where individuals cannot properly break down the amino acid phenylalanine. In this case, sugar-free yogurt varieties can be a harmful disadvantage.
