Benefits of probiotic yogurts and popular brands

Benefits of probiotic yogurts and popular brands

Bacteria are commonly perceived as harmful organisms to be avoided at all costs. However, very few know that many of them play a vital role in maintaining our gut health. Probiotics are good bacteria that our gut craves to eliminate the harmful bacteria from our body. Even though several sources of probiotics are available, like fermented foods and supplements, there is no tastier way to include good bacteria in meals than yogurts, as discussed below:

What are the key probiotic benefits for the body?
Your body, specifically your gut, is composed of trillions of microbes called the gut microbiome. When you eat or drink something, your gut microbiome balance is affected, which comprises both good bacteria and harmful bacteria.

When an infection attacks your body, the number of harmful bacteria exceeds the number of good bacteria in your guts. To destroy these bad guys, your body requires good bacteria from external sources. When probiotics from external sources like supplements or fermented foods enter your body, they attack the harmful bacteria to restore the equilibrium of your gut microbiome, making your colon strong and helping your body to fight off infections.

Some of the typical disease symptoms that probiotics help in managing include diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and lactose intolerance. This is because they help in disintegrating fibrous foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, and specific fruits.

Among the various existing probiotic types, Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most commonly available as well as the most beneficial one. It maintains blood sugar levels, promotes overall digestion, and strengthens your body to fight off yeast infections. It is typically combined with two other probiotics called Lactobacillus casei and Bifidus regularis to make it more effective in enhancing intestinal health.

You can also find L. acidophilus in miso, tempeh, cheese and sauerkraut. However, most nutritionists suggest yogurt as it is the most accessible and affordable option. Besides, it can be easily included in your daily meal regime as a healthy and tasty snack.

How to select the best probiotic yogurt?

Since the market is flooded with different probiotic yogurt brands, it may be overwhelming to select the right one. However, an inspection of the ingredients list can help narrow down your ambit of choices. Thus, when you intend to purchase a product, make sure to look into two things in the food label:

  1. Ensure that the product mentions the presence of “live and active cultures.”
  2. Look into the sugar content. Some yogurts tend to have more sugar content than an ice cream bowl. An ideal probiotic yogurt should not have more than 10 grams of sugar.

Apart from maintaining your blood sugar levels, the reason that makes going through the sugar content all the more necessary is that the harmful bacteria present in your body flourish on sugar. So, purchasing a product with excessive sugar can spoil your efforts as it will cause the harmful bacteria to let loose and outnumber good bacteria, causing chronic diseases and inflammation. Although the probiotics will fight the harmful bacteria, the presence of excess sugar will spoil their efforts. Keeping these points in mind, here are a few healthiest and tastiest probiotic yogurts you can trust with your eyes closed.

Stonyfield Organic Plain Whole Milk Yogurt
Be it regular yogurt or Greek yogurt, Stonefield is notable for offering healthy and safe probiotic yogurts free-from-growth hormones and containing outstanding live active culture sources. Besides, they are non-GMO and committed to lessening unnecessary sugar from their content. Furthermore, they also have soy probiotics yogurts for dairy-free probiotics eaters.

Siggi’s Vanilla Whole-Milk Yogurt
Siggi’s is one of the most recommended yogurts by experts. However, it is not really a yogurt. Instead, it is skyr, an Icelandic kind of yogurt, which is thicker and creamier than Greek yogurt. Besides, its sugar content is 40 percent lesser than Greek yogurts and contains more protein and live-active bacteria to enhance bodily health.

Yoplait Light Strawberry Yogurt
Even though Greek yogurts are popular, they are not suitable for everyone due to their thickness. For those who prefer less thick yogurts, Yoplait Light is a perfect choice. Besides, it is rich in Vitamin D, which is highly essential for bone health. Furthermore, it offers some lip-smacking flavors, with the strawberry being the most popular one. However, they are pretty sweet tasting. So, be reasonable with the toppings, especially fruits.

Chobani Less Sugar Greek Yogurt
Chobani’s Less Sugar Greek Yogurt line offers 45 percent less sugar than other yogurts. It is gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly, and, most importantly, kosher-certified. Besides, it is incredibly delicious and comes in several flavors, including blueberry, alphonso mango, and Fino Limon.

Vega Protein Cashew Milk Raspberry Yogurt
Each cup of this vegan-friendly yogurt contains over 10 billion live active cultures, making it one of the most sought-after plant-based yogurt alternatives. The yogurt is creamy and thick and is available in several flavors.

To Conclude
The health benefits of probiotics are many, and so are their sources. However, yogurts are the easiest to sneak into your daily food habits due to their potential as the perfect evening snacks. So, avoid wasting your precious time and maintain your gut health with some tasty probiotic yogurt.

Popular Articles

01

4 essential vitamins for optimum eye health

The eyes are complex organs and need a variety of nutrients to function optimally. Many common health conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and others can negatively affect our eyes, which may lead up to a complete loss of vision. While some conditions like moderate astigmatism can be corrected using contact lenses or eye lenses, others can be prevented by consuming a healthy dose of these 4 vitamins: Vitamin A Vitamin A deficiency is one of the most common causes of blindness globally. Vitamin A plays a crucial role in maintaining a clear cornea (outside the covering of the eye). A person with this vitamin deficiency may find their eyes not producing enough moisture to stay lubricated. It is also essential for maintaining the eyes’ light-sensing cells called photoreceptors. A deficiency of vitamin A can also lead to xerophthalmia, a progressive eye disease that begins with night blindness. Continued deficiency can lead to the drying up of the eyes and tear ducts, and softening of the cornea, resulting in irreversible blindness. To maintain eye health, it is recommended to eat vitamin-A-rich foods, like sweet potatoes, leafy greens, pumpkins, squash, bell peppers, carrots, dairy products, egg yolks, and liver.
Read More
02

Avoid these 5 smartphone habits

For most people, it is next to impossible to get through the day without using smartphones at least a few times. You need to make calls, check updates on the go, and even use smart navigation systems on your phone. But some smartphone habits can severely hamper productivity, affect your health, and may make you overly dependent on the gadget. So, here are five smartphone habits to keep in check: Using an alarm app Using your phone as an alarm clock might seem completely harmless. After all, apps on the phone let you set multiple alarms. But it never stops at hitting the snooze or dismiss button once you wake up. You will be tempted to check your phone for messages and social media, which will delay getting out of bed. Opt for a conventional alarm clock and keep your phone away from you at night to avoid checking anything after getting up. Ignoring software updates Smartphone care is as important as learning how to use the device in moderation. Many people make the mistake of postponing crucial software updates and granting necessary application permissions. These habits make the device extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks that can access confidential data. Always keep your phone updated to ensure the latest security updates are installed.
Read More
03

7 foods that help fight against Bronchitis

When you have bronchitis, it’s easy to overeat greasy, salty, or sugary foods to relieve the coughing, breathing, and throat pain. Alternatively, you may decide not to consume anything at all. However, you should take care and watch what you eat as refined carbs and saturated fats might impede recovery. Knowing which foods to avoid and which to eat may influence the severity of bronchitis symptoms. Here’s a list of a few items you should avoid. Foods with preservatives and additives Sulfites, a form of preservative, may aggravate bronchitis. Liquor, dried fruits, pickled foods, maraschino cherries, and lime juice all contain sulfites. Processed and quick meals frequently contain chemical additives, flavors, and colorings. Some bronchitis patients may be susceptible to or intolerant to these artificial components. Gas-forming foods Eating large meals or gas-producing foods strains the diaphragm, especially if you suffer from acid reflux. This can cause chest pains and asthma flare-ups. Beans, cabbage, carbonated beverages, onions, and fried dishes are examples of these foods. Sugar and HFCS Do you enjoy drinking sugar-laden colas? Be cautious. They can be dangerous to your health. Avoiding syrups, candies, and other sugary foods will help to relieve symptoms such as coughing, irritation, and discomfort in your lungs.
Read More