Probiotics and Yogurt
Is there a yogurt pill?
Not exactly, but there is something close. One of the
main reasons why yogurt is healthy for you is due to the live cultures of beneficial
bacteria. These bacteria, mainly acidophilus, are used to ferment the
sugar and proteins in milk to create yogurt. In our body, these bacteria
colonize the intestinal tract and help to keep us healthy.
They do this by several different mechanisms. One way involves the
ability of these bacteria to crowd out unwanted organisms like yeast.
They also help break down our food ensuring we extract the most amounts of
vitamins and nutrients possible. As bacteria, they help to stimulate our
immune defenses without causing infection. This supports our body's
ability to fight off other harmful bacterial and viral infections.
These same bacteria are readily available in supplement form, commonly referred
to as probiotics. This will give you the same benefits of eating yogurt
in regards to supporting intestinal health, nutrient absorption and immune
function. In fact, supplementation is often more effective because the
original cultures used to make the yogurt do not always survive by the time the
finished product hits the grocery store shelves.
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View More by Dr. Kevin Passero
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Lead Medical Director
As a certified and fully trained Naturopathic Doctor, Passero has trained and preceptored with some of the nation's leading doctors in the field of natural medicine, working under the guidance of MD’s, Chiropractors, Naturopaths and Acupuncturists. Furthermore, he is currently the Vice President of the Maryland Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
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