Gut Health
Benefits of Eating Yogurt for Gut Health:
When your gut health isn’t at its best, your overall health is sure to suffer as well. Studies have shown that people with gut issues are more prone to developing allergies, arthritis, and other inflammatory diseases such as diabetes. To keep your gut functioning properly, be sure to include foods like yogurt in your diet.
Not only will this help your gut stay happy and healthy, but it will also provide many benefits in other areas of your body as well. Here are the top 10 benefits of eating yogurt for gut health.
1) Balance Your Digestive System
In order to live a healthy life, your digestive system needs to be in proper working order. The trillions of bacteria that line your gut are responsible for turning food into nutrients and absorbing vitamins, but imbalances in these colonies can disrupt normal digestion.
As a result, you may experience pain or even serious disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Fortunately, probiotics—types of bacteria that populate your gut—are able to counterbalance harmful yeast and fungus while also enhancing immune function and limiting inflammation. To help restore balance to your digestive system and boost overall wellness, eat yogurt with active cultures on a regular basis.
2) Reduce the Symptoms of Constipation
Many people who deal with chronic constipation turn to dairy products as a natural laxative. While eating yogurt on a regular basis can help, there are two specific strains of probiotics that researchers have linked to relieving constipation: Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis.
The research is preliminary, but it seems like you may want to try eating yogurt with live active cultures (that’s good bacteria) or taking a probiotic supplement, in addition to your usual dosage, if you suffer from constipation issues.
3) Fight Acne and Improve Skin Quality
Acne is caused by numerous factors, but eating yogurt can help. The probiotics (good bacteria) found in yogurt help to balance gut health, which in turn helps prevent acne and other skin-related issues. As a bonus, eating yogurt boosts your immune system, which reduces your risk of developing colds or other infections that could trigger breakouts.
If you’re looking to improve skin quality while also warding off sickness, try adding more yogurt to your diet. It’s easier than it sounds: Choose healthy toppings like fruit and nuts instead of high-calorie sauces; eat smaller portions throughout the day; and opt for yogurts with live cultures instead of ones filled with thickeners or added sugars.
4) Decrease Inflammation
Many people who suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis find relief by consuming yogurt regularly. This is because these diseases are both characterized by excess inflammation in your intestines, which can be counteracted by eating a lot of probiotics and other beneficial bacteria, which live in dairy products.
The bacteria found in yogurt also promote healthy digestion and improve immune system response. This means that if you suffer from a chronic digestive disorder, eating yogurt might help you to lead a more normal life.
5)Support Heart Health
The saturated fat in full-fat yogurt can help lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. Additionally, certain strains of probiotics (particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) have been shown to help reduce blood pressure, which is another factor in lowering your risk for heart disease.
A study published in May 2015 by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who consumed high amounts (5 or more servings per week) had a significantly lower risk for developing metabolic syndrome than those who ate low amounts (fewer than 1 serving per week).
Furthermore, yogurt was shown to increase insulin sensitivity in healthy individuals; however, those with metabolic syndrome may find that eating less processed foods improves their insulin sensitivity even further.
6)Keep Blood Sugar Levels in Check
The bacteria in your gut can affect your blood sugar levels, and recent research suggests probiotics may be a helpful addition to your diet if you are trying to lose weight. In a study published in Diabetes Care in 2011, researchers gave 89 overweight participants either a daily dose of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (worth about 1 gram) or a placebo.
At least as important as helping with weight loss, researchers found, was that people who consumed probiotics also saw improvements in their bad cholesterol readings over time. Research shows that maintaining healthy blood-sugar levels is essential to managing hunger throughout the day and keeping caloric intake under control.
7)Strengthen Bones and Teeth
Calcium is a crucial mineral that helps keep our bones and teeth strong, but our bodies can’t produce it on their own. That’s why foods like yogurt are a great way to add calcium to your diet. Not only does calcium promote bone health, but yogurt is also a good source of Vitamin D, which helps maintain bone density.
A review published in 2012 in The Journal of Nutrition examined research from more than 50 studies involving over 2 million people and found that diets rich in dairy—including yogurt—are associated with reduced hip fracture risk. For optimal gut health and dental strength, aim to eat one cup or serving per day.
8)Increase Immunity
Probiotics (the good bacteria found in yogurt) are beneficial to our health. Consuming probiotic foods can help maintain immune system strength and reduce our risk of contracting infections. Most people know that yogurt is good for them, but do you actually know why? Here are some great reasons why you should make it a part of your daily diet
9)Boost Energy Levels
High-quality probiotics are a good source of B vitamins and vitamin K, which are important in making energy. If you tend to be low on energy during the day, consider having some yogurt in your morning breakfast or afternoon snack.
At least half of an eight-ounce serving (around 150 grams) should contain active probiotic cultures that can aid digestion and promote healthy gut bacteria. Additionally, when it comes to boosting your energy, consuming natural sugars from fruits can give you a quick boost because fruit sugar enters your bloodstream faster than simple carbs like white bread or soda pop.
10)Stay Slimmer
Studies have shown that people who regularly eat yogurt tend to weigh less than those who don’t. A 2014 study from Denmark showed that people who ate at least four servings of yogurt per week (at least 4 ounces each) were 24 percent less likely to gain weight over time.
The reason? Eating a probiotic-rich food like yogurt promotes healthy gut bacteria and leads to a reduction in inflammation, keeping you feeling fuller longer and helping you control your appetite.
Another study showed that participants who ate 2 servings per day of reduced-fat dairy products (like yogurt or cottage cheese) lost more body fat over 12 weeks than people who didn’t regularly eat dairy products.
