Yogurt: The Secret to a Long and Healthy Life

Most people think of yogurt as just a healthy food that can be consumed in various combinations. Yes, yogurt is among the healthiest and most nutritionally complete foods, because it contains a balanced mix of proteins, fats, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1(Thiamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), selenium, and choline. What not everyone knows is that yogurt, especially Bulgarian yogurt, can also be used as medicine. The first documented case dates back to the 16th century, when French King Francois I was cured of chronic diarrhea by a simple yogurt diet.

Picture credit: Author Lidiya Angelov. It is yogurt with cucumbers, dill and sunflower oil called dry tarator.

Yogurt health benefits come from its healthy nutritional components and probiotic bacteria, which are also known as probiotics. I'm working on a microbiology crash course where you'll learn more about probiotics and other microorganisms benefits; more information to come. Meanwhile, the main benefit of yogurt probiotics is that they keep bad bacteria and fungi in our gut at bay. They play an important role in maintaining a healthy gut microbiota. *Gut microbiota is called the microorganisms that inhabit our gastrointestinal tract. Keep in mind that not all yogurts contain probiotic bacteria. Bulgarian yogurt is the best because it contains the essential Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus (often simply called Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and Streptococcus salivarius subspecies thermophilus (often called to Streptococcus thermophilus). The presence of these bacteria in yogurt should typically be noted on the label. There is a simple way for determining whether yogurt contains good bacteria, but it will be covered in my course. Bulgarian yogurt also contains prebiotic galactooligosaccharide, which is food for the good gut bacteria. Lactic acid in yogurt has additional health benefits.

Let's sum up the benefits of yogurt:

• Probiotics can help treat a variety of infectious diseases, gastrointestinal tract dysfunctions, and inflammatory disorders, as well as control obesity and diabetes.

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus yogurt may be effective against antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori, which causes gastritis and peptic ulcers.

• Yogurt has anticancer properties, particularly against colon cancer.

• It is beneficial to the heart and lowers blood pressure.

• Improves the health of the brain and nervous system; beneficial to Parkinson's disease patients.

• Yogurt boosts memory and mood.

• If you exercise, you should consume a lot of yogurt because it aids in muscle growth and control.

• Yogurt is effective against food poisoning.

• Enhances nutrient absorption.

• Helps maintain regular bowel movements and is effective for constipation.

• It has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants assist in the neutralization of damaging free radicals and the reduction of inflammation.

• Yogurt can be eaten by people with lactose intolerance due to the lower lactose content.

• Yogurt has numerous advantages when applied to the skin and hair, including soothing the symptoms of eczema, removal of dandruff, improvement of skin appearance, anti-wrinkle and anti-acne effects, and reducing the sun damage. It's an excellent natural face and body peeling because of its mild peeling effect. A cup of yogurt applied to the hair and left on for around 20 minutes is a great mask that gives the hair a healthy look and shine.

References

https://bacillusbulgaricus.com/bulgarian-yogurt/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7996614/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.999001/full

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13102818.2018.1475255

https://ami-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/lam.12807

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352364620300298

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