Benefits of Culture in Yogurt
Yogurt, long sold to the public as a healthy convenience food, has in recent years been labeled with a string of new terms describing its natural active culture and other added nutritional boosts. While there has been some scientific evidence to back the health claims inherent in yogurt's active culture, the science still is fairly new on probiotics, and regulation on the industry is not yet optimal. This has caused yogurt sellers' "educational" marketing to have its own share of controversy, and the National Yogurt Association has instituted a "Live Active Culture" seal on yogurt packages in which the product contains at least 108 viable lactic acid bacteria per gram for refrigerated products and 107 for frozen.
Types
All yogurts initially contain live and active cultures, but some are heated after they are made, destroying the cultures. According to the FDA, in order for a refrigerated product to be called "yogurt," it has to be produced by culturing permitted dairy ingredients with a bacterial culture, which contains Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.These microorganisms work to convert the lactose to lactic acid, providing yogurt with its unique flavor.
Features
In addition to Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, some yogurts have Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidus added to them due to the data accumulating on the health benefits of probiotic consumption. It is important to note however, that all live active cultures are not the same and not all cultures are probiotics. Probiotics must be ingested in adequate amounts and able to reach the intestine alive to have any effect.
Significance
Live and active cultures found in yogurt are speculated to boost the body's immune system, fight certain types of cancer and prevent osteoporosis. While not enough studies have been conducted to establish a definitive link between live and active culture yogurt and these health effects, the research thus far has been promising. Americans have been sold on the idea, with yogurt sales increasing between 5 and 7 percent every year from 2004-07.
Benefits
The live and active cultures found in yogurt break down lactose in milk, giving individuals with lactose intolerance the ability to eat yogurt and receive the nutrients found in the milk product without the usual side effects of abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea. Full of "good" bacteria, yogurt can also be beneficial for those with irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal infections.
Misconceptions
Activia yogurt, DanActive yogurt drink and Stonyfield yogurt all claim to have studies backing up the benefits of active culture and probiotics in their products. Although not entirely false claims, these studies have been shown to be skewed in favor of the testers rather than the consumers. And the fact is, probiotics are not going to help everyone. "If you're healthy and are not planning to take antibiotics, go into the hospital or maybe take a trip out of the country, there is no benefit from taking probiotics," says microbiologist Lynne McFarland, coauthor of The Power of Probiotics.
