Article By: John Fontana

I remember I was pretty young when I first found out that yogurt had living cultures in it.  And being a young kid with a wild imagination, I couldn’t help but think of these little communities that were in my yogurt.  I pictured something out of movies like “A Bug’s Life” or “Finding Nemo,” with little villages of walking, talking creatures. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but was told the cultures were actually good for me, so I didn’t give it much thought. Also, I loved the way it tasted, so I had no issue eating the little communities of whatever they were.

Active Cultures Bad?

Then a few years later, I found out that the little communities were actually living bacteria.  Suddenly that image went from one of cute little creatures to one of nasty bugs. Needless to say, it grossed me out a bit and yogurt quickly slid down the list of things I actually enjoyed eating. Up until that point, everything I heard about bacteria was bad, so I figured this situation was no different and I questioned why were being given this bacteria-laden food.

Active Cultures Good?

But as time went on, my thought process switched all over again as I began to learn about nutrition.  In nutrition, just as in life, there’s a “good” and a “bad” version of almost everything.  Bacteria took on a new meaning as I realized that, depending on the situation, bacteria could be either an amazing thing or a terrible thing.  In the case of yogurt, bacteria are actually a very good thing. And so my consumption rate increased as, once again, I started looking to my little bacteria friends for help.

Today, the yogurt companies don’t just place a little disclaimer in fine print stating: “This product contains live and active cultures.”  Some actually place the fact right on the label, claiming to aid in digestion. Why?

Why So Good?

As you may or may not know, bacteria found in the foods we eat play a major role in the health of our gut. These bacteria cultures can boost your immune system, aid in digestion and ultimately help you live a longer, healthier life. Here’s how:

Bacteria Good!

The bacteria in yogurt belong to the lactobacillus class, which has been shown to have a direct correlation to the support and improvement of your immune system. These live cultures are known as probiotics and can help fight away bacteria that otherwise would be hosted by your stomach. Many degenerative diseases begin in the gut and are derived from the negative effects that some foods have on our bodies. By consistently eating yogurt, you will equip your gut with a troop of good bacteria ready to fight off anything that comes its way.

Lose Belly Fat

Having a good digestive system can often lead to fat loss (especially in the belly). A lot of people who are overweight have inflamed stomachs because of the demands the food they eat places on their bodies. This inflammation hurts your ability to digest, which in turn can cause your stomach to look puffy or bloated.

Yogurt has actually been shown to substantially decrease belly fat. Although there is no certain reason why, the tests don’t lie. A possible reason is because of the high amount of calcium found in yogurt. A high calcium count means that fat cells cannot store as much fat, causing the cells to actually burn more. Another possibility is that yogurt contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which has been shown to reduce belly fat specifically.

World Of Benefits

Yogurt has also been attributed to helping with arthritis, preventing ulcers, reducing risk of cancer, lowering bad cholesterol and even helping to keep your breath smelling good. It is an all around good food that can be eaten pretty regularly and considering most of them are between 100-200 calories, it can be eaten as a great snack. Considering all the health benefits yogurt contains, it is actually good that it has been marketed heavily toward kids.

How To Eat?

I think a lot of you know my stance on animal products and dairy, so you might be confused as to why I am recommending yogurt. Many yogurts are derived from regular, old slaughterhouse, grain-fed cows, which I am opposed to. However, you can find great yogurt that comes from cows that were raised humanely and ate the right foods. Another good option is to find yogurt that is goat’s-milk or sheep’s-milk based. Kefir is also another alternative.

Try to get an all-organic brand of yogurt and dodge the big, brand-named ones that have crazy flavors such as Key Lime Pie. If you want to learn a little bit more about what yogurt to buy at the store, check out this post.

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