Ten Good Reasons to Add Yoghurt to Your Daily Diet

When I came to the United States and had my first taste of plain yoghurt, I said, "yuck!!."
Since then, I came to realize the tremendous health benefits, that this popular, fermented product has, and I have added it to my daily diet.
Researchers are finding out that yoghurt is a wonder food with amazing health benefits.

Here are Ten Good Reasons Why You Should Add Yoghurt to Your Daily Diet.

1) Nutritional Value
Yoghurt is a rich, creamy, good tasting product, made from milk and yoghurt starter. It is extremely nutritional since it is jam packed with
calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B, potassium and lactic acid. Lactic acid allows the body to properly assimulate protien, iron and calcium.
Its calcium content, also aids in building and maintaining strong bones and teeth, enhances muscle contractions and helps to reduce blood pressure.

2) Vitamin B Production
In an article "A cup of yoghurt a Day" www.thehindubusinessline.com
According to Pratima Kaushik, chief dietician at the Vidyasagar Institute of Mental health and Neurosciences, Delhi.
"If you want to have your own stock pile of B vitamins without having to buy them, eat yoghurt. By a strange chemistry, it sets up an efficient little factory in the intestinal tract and manufactures B vitamins for you."

3) Weight Loss
In a new study by researchers at the University of Tennessee "Hot Slimming Tips" www.rediff.com they found that obese adults, who ate three servings of
fat-free yoghurt a day as part of a reduced calorie diet, lost 22 percent more weight and 61 percent more body fat than those who simply cut calories and didn't bone up on calcium.

4) Bacterial Benefits
One of the best things about yoghurt, is its live cultures or strains of bacteria, namely lactobacillus (L) L. acidophilus, L.bulgarcus, Streptococcus thermophilus
and bifidobacteria. What can these live cultures do?
They restore your intestinal tract to normal after the use of antibiotic which usually decreases your normal flora or natural bacterial level.
They help to prevent constipation, eases diarrhea and helps with inflammatory bowel disease. www.iol.co.za/generalnews

5) Prevents Bad Breath
According to an article "Natural Yoghurt Beats Bad Breath." Sugarless yoghurt could help beat bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease, say scientists.
http://www.iol.co.za/general/news
Japanese researchers found eating yoghurt reduced levels of hydrogen sulphide - a major cause of bad breath. This report was presented at a meeting of the International Association for Dental Research.

6) Boosts the Immune System
According to a study by scientists at the Universitry of California "Why Yoghut is so Good for You" http://www.iol.co.za/general/news the live cultures in yoghurt also stimulates your immune system, prevents infections, wards off colds , allergies and other respiratory ailments.

7) Prevents Osteoporosis
Due to the calcium and vitamin content of yoghurt it helps to prevent osteoporosis.

8) Lowers Cholesterol Level
Yoghurt may also be beneficial in lowering LDL "bad cholesterol" and in balancing "HDL the good cholesterol," according to the article,
"Why yoghurt is good for you" http://www.iol.co.za/general/news

9) Low in Calories
Yoghurt is low in calories and there are a variety of caloric content to chose from, there is, low fat, fat free and regular, also plain and flavored.
When shopping for yoghurt, be sure to check the label in particular for, live active culture to get the best benefits from the product. Also check for sugar content
since this may also vary in the quany
The best thing to do, is to buy plain yoghurt and add your own fresh fruits, nuts and other ingredients of your choice, for flavor.

10)Variety of Uses
Yoghurt is not just a snack or dessert dish, there are a variety of ways to add this wonder food to your daily diet.
Add yoghurt to shakes, to salads as topping or dressing, add it to soups and sauces.

Search the internt to find numerous recipes and ways to add yoghurt to your daily diet and enjoy its flavor, its taste and reap its health benefits.

Kavita Devgan, " A Cup of Yoghurt a Day" Business Line Internet Edition, www.thehindubussinessline.com
Merril Diniz, "Hot Slimming Tip: Eat Yoghurt!" www.rediff.com
Julene Tripp Weaver, "Health Benifits of Yughurt" www.leaflady.org
Angelea Dowden, "Why Yoghurt is Good for You" www.iol.co.za/general/news