Yogurt: The Superior Dairy?

by Deborah English — January 5, 2008

For years, dairy has been espoused with being a premier food source of calcium and as such a preventative for degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis. And there is no denying that dairy foods are a great source of calcium, B vitamins -- especially riboflavin and B12 -- vitamins A and D, as well as the minerals potassium, magnesium, and zinc. However, there is much conflicting evidence about the consumption of cow's milk, and only you can decide whether to eat it or not.

A main-stream concern is the prevalence of lactose intolerance in many of us, which can cause varying degrees of digestive disruption -- inhibiting our bodies' ability to absorb nutrients, (such as the calcium in milk!) potentially leading to major health problems. However, like me, if you like to eat dairy but have minor lactose intolerance, yogurt could be the answer.

I eat yogurt occasionally and find that it is far easier to digest than milk. More than that, eating yogurt makes my digestive system feel pretty good. This is because the probiotic cultures present in yogurt help to break down some of the lactose in the milk. Much of these "healthy" bacteria stay alive in your gut improving the microbial balance in your intestine, actually increasing your body's ability to absorb nutrients from all food.

Be aware, though, that all dairy labeled "yogurt" is not equal. Carefully check the labels on the yogurt before you buy it. The most common beneficial probiotic cultures include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidus, and Lactobacillus casei. Just think "ABC cultures" and you will choose your yogurt wisely. And remember to select organic probiotic yogurt to avoid the "nasties" commonly ingested by non-organically reared cows.