Yogurt is a superfood that fuels and nourishes our bodies. You’ll find it in some form in every country of the world. Like putting good quality fuel and oil in our vehicles, it primes and revs our bodies so we can do amazing things.
The power of yogurt comes from beneficial bacteria. These bacteria convert milk from its fresh state to the fermented creaminess we all love. Our modern diet is sorely lacking in quality fermented foods that nourished our ancestors for millennia.
Forget the heavily processed, sugar-laden yogurt of your childhood. Consuming fresh, quality versions from trustworthy sources will do a world of good for your body. These ten health benefits from eating yogurt will earn it a permanent spot on your grocery list.
10 Reasons Why You Should Eat Yogurt
1. Increasing and balancing the gastrointestinal microbiome
We all immediately think of our intestinal health when we talk about the fantastic advantages of eating fermented foods. According to a study done by the Biology department at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, regular consumption of yogurt has a positive impact on lactobacillus levels. Lactobacillus helps us digest our food efficiently, absorb nutrients, and prevent the overgrowth of undesirable bacteria.
Unbalanced bacteria levels in the gastrointestinal tract lead to many adverse health effects. These effects include obesity, insulin resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, even cancer, and autism, according to this academic paper from The International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Keeping positive bacteria balances helps you stay slimmer and healthier by making the most use of your food.
2. Beautiful, well-hydrated skin
Your skin is made of proteins that require constant replenishing. Yogurt contains around 30% of your daily riboflavin, a B vitamin, requirements per serving. This abundant source of vitamin B2 helps your skin repair and replace vital nutrients to stay gorgeous.
It can also help clear eczema, rosacea, and acne. When your GI bacteria levels are in good order, skin problems clear up. Disharmony in microbiota is a cause of acne and other skin ailments when bad bacteria have enough numbers to cause problems.
Dehydrated skin usually has a damaged lipid barrier. Lipids are fats. These fats hold in moisture and give life to your skin. Replenishing the lipid barrier of your skin will restore the smooth, supple feel of your skin.
3. Help you lose weight
Remember when we talked about morning routines to help you lose weight? A good, nutritious breakfast starts your day right, helping you drop the pounds. One of our favorite breakfasts for weight loss is yogurt.
Breakfasts containing protein and fats help kickstart your body. You feel more energized and satiated for much longer. This reduces snacking when you begin to feel tired and cranky. Lower caloric intake equals faster weight loss.
If yogurt isn’t your thing, you can dress it up for a powerful punch in the morning. Fruit is always a welcome addition. Pomegranate seeds or sliced kiwi are especially delicious.
Other choices include blending it in with a morning smoothie. The creaminess gives a luscious, smooth texture to your smoothie.
4.Boost your brain’s power
Before sending the kids to school after a big bowl of cereal, you might want to read this. Yogurt helps fortify your brain so you can think more quickly and process emotions. This leads to improved performance at school and work and helps with social interactions.
Part of the brain-boosting function comes from probiotics colonizing your gut. The nerves that connect your brain and gastrointestinal system are a two-way street. When the gut is healthy, it sends back signals to the brain that help it run smoother and faster.
The other brain benefit comes from the fat content of all dairy products. Most are especially rich sources of good fats, as long as you buy whole milk grass-fed versions.
5. Ease hemorrhoid discomfort
Talking about hemorrhoids isn’t pleasant, so it can be easy to miss out on the best ways to heal them. Trying to ignore the situation can just make it worse.
If you get hemorrhoids regularly, especially if you’re pregnant, you probably already try to eat plenty of fiber. That will definitely help. While yogurt doesn’t contain fiber, it also helps reduce pain from hemorrhoids.
Keeping everything soft and easy to pass is the key to pain-free bowel movements. Eating a bowl of that probiotic-rich goodness helps a lot. The bacteria break down your food more completely, and the fat helps prevent hard stools.
6. Prevent stroke
Remember the brain-building capabilities of yogurt? It also protects your brain from stroke, a condition caused by an interruption of blood circulation in the brain. Fermented foods help lower blood pressure, reduce your risk of heart disease, and help prevent type 2 diabetes.
You can help prevent these risk factors of stroke through a healthy diet. Those good fatty acids, vitamins, and mineral content of dairy feed your heart and circulatory system.
Preventing plaque buildup in your arteries is one of the main contributors to reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke. The healthy cholesterol found in milk and its products helps stop the buildup of plaque. The research on the dangers of cholesterol has changed, and now healthful sources of cholesterol are recommended.
7. Recover after the flu
Every flu season, you hope and pray that it’ll dodge you. Most years, though, it strikes. If you’ve tried all the usual remedies, you may be surprised to learn that fermented dairy foods can actually really help.
Back to the gut-fortifying, wonder-working beneficial bacteria. Do you see a theme? They restore your body’s balance after fighting off the stomach flu so that you can bounce back more quickly.
Don’t force yourself to eat any dairy if you’re too sick to keep down anything more than broth and popsicles. You can start consuming your probiotic-rich foods after your tummy has settled enough that you aren’t throwing up anymore. They work to restore bacteria levels, not kill the virus, causing the flu.
8. Heal leaky gut syndrome
This one should come as no surprise since we already know yogurt is a miracle food for your gastrointestinal tract. You may suffer from leaky gut syndrome and have no idea that you do. It’s a sneaky but prevalent medical condition in our modern time.
Leaky gut syndrome is the leaking of nutrients, toxins, and bacteria through the intestinal wall into your body. It results in malnutrition, bloating, gas, fatigue, brain fog, and chronic pain. To recover from leaky gut syndrome, your intestinal system needs to be repaired and protected.
Healing your gut with beneficial bacteria is especially important if you have had to take antibiotics recently. All fermented foods have probiotics that help recognize your gut and patch up the cracks that cause the leaky gut syndrome. Dairy sources are an especially good fit because the fats and vitamins are good for your cell walls.
9. Lessen joint pain
As we get older, we all start to notice a little more stiffness and pain in our joints. The cracking and popping become normal as we stand up or change positions. It doesn’t have to be, nor do painful, swollen joints.
Dairy products help strengthen your bones and muscles. The protein content builds up the muscles that support your joints, preventing or easing arthritis. Light strength training and dietary protein fortify your joints by increasing the protective muscle groups around them.
10. Help gain weight
Most people don’t want to gain weight, ever! But there are times that a person’s body may desperately need additional fat reserves. High-quality sources of dietary fat and protein help accomplish this goal.
If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or recovering from a medical condition, you may need to increase your fat intake just a little. Eating dairy products can help you pack on the right kind of pounds while supporting a healthy body. Needing to gain some weight is no excuse to eat junk food, especially if you’re growing a sweet baby.
Dairy is not necessarily a “low-calorie” food choice. A bowl of yogurt does increase satiety because of the fat and protein content. You can mix in other healthful fat and fiber sources to help you meet your necessary weight gain.
Final Thoughts: Yogurt Nourishes Your Body
Our bodies are a complex system with several parts that all work together to run their best. Caring for that system requires thoughtful attention on our part. The foods we eat are one of the main ways we can keep them primed and healthy.
One note to be aware of–some yogurts contain large amounts of sugar, coloring, and added flavors. Read the label carefully. Instead, choose those with limted or no sugar and sweeten with fresh berries and fruits at home.
Many ailments we suffer from today are the result of decades of heavily processed artificial foods. Conditions like high blood pressure, leaky gut syndrome, eczema, and other ailments all link to poor nutrition. Just because we eat plenty of food doesn’t mean our bodies are getting what they need.
Eating yogurt is a healthful and delicious way to heal and fuel our bodies. Packing in the probiotic love builds strong, resilient systems within us. When you realize how awesome you look and feel, you’ll find yourself reaching for another bowl.
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