12
Apr
Blog, Fermented Health Foods, Yoghurt

Gut Health – Benefits of Yoghurt

Posted on by Joan Berning

BE SURE YOU ARE INGESTING LIVE PROBIOTIC BACTERIA SO GOOD FOR YOUR GUT BY MAKING YOUR OWN YOGHURT. ITS EASIER THAN YOU THINK.

When you make yoghurt you are not  just making it to feed yourself and your family, you’re also introducing microscopic bacteria, probiotic lactic acid bacteria, that work hard producing functional products ( tiny molecules) in your gut with big benefits for your body and brain.

Lets go through the process one step at a time. We all know yoghurt in all its different formats, drinking yoghurt, yoghurt with fruit, and set yoghurt consumed since ancient times. But why is it so healthy and what role do the lactic acid bacteria play?

Yoghurt is made by adding bacteria such as Bifidobacterium species, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus to milk and then incubated at a temperature about 40°C for 6 -12 hours.  The bacteria ferment the lactose (milk sugar) and produce functional healthy probiotic products (molecules) such as lactic acid, fatty acids, vitamins, bacteriocins (that kill harmful bacteria), amines, and exopolysacchirides. The result is a thick, velvety, flavoursome product, with a pleasing aroma and mouth feel, easily digestible.

The bacteria are living organisms and in order for them to be of service to us, they need to run the gauntlet of our digestive tract starting with the mucous in our mouth followed by our very acidic stomach before ending up in the long intestine and the colon where they adhere to the wall of the gut and continue to produce the probiotic products so essential to our health.  This is where the choice of probiotic strains is of such importance. Various companies grow the bacteria but produce different strains of the same bacteria with different qualities such as their capability to endure within the gastrointestinal tract, their ability to combat pathogenic microorganisms through antimicrobial activity, and their possession of antioxidant properties and their ability to adhere to the wall of the gut. Finest Kind has chosen to distribute  CHR.Hansen yoghurt cultures  as  their strains have these abilities and furthermore their strains are able to survive in the yoghurt for the duration of its shelf life.

Many yoghurts bought from the shelf in super markets do not contain live lactic acid bacteria after a period of time and are corrupted  by the addition of sugars and preservatives and stabilisers.

The Functional Products Produced in the Gut.

The products produced by the live bacteria in the gut the following probiotic properties 

  1. Lactic Acid

Lactic acid isn’t just responsible for yogurt’s tangy flavour. It also:

  • Helps lower pH and inhibit harmful bacteria
  • May aid in the absorption of certain minerals like calcium and magnesium
  1. Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA)

SCFA’s such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate are powerful:

  • Anti-inflammatory agents
  • Gut-health enhancers
  • Energy sources for colon cells

These are often indirectly produced through the cross-feeding of the probiotic lactic acid bacteria and other beneficial gut microbes.

  1. Bacteriocins

These are antimicrobial peptides that inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. 

  • Improve food safety
  • Balance gut microbiota
  • Reduce the need for synthetic preservatives in yogurt
  1. Exopolysaccharides (sugars)

These are sugar-based compounds that Lactic acid bacteria secrete. 

  • Improve yogurt texture and creaminess
  • May have prebiotic and immune-modulating effects
  • Could help lower blood cholesterol levels
  1. Bioactive Peptides

These are protein fragments released during the breakdown of milk proteins (caseins and whey) by lactic acid bacterial enzymes. Some of their effects include:

  • Blood pressure regulation (ACE-inhibitory activity)
  • Antioxidant properties
  • Immune system modulation
  1. Vitamins and Amino Acids

Certain Lactic acid bacteria can synthesize essential nutrients like:

  • B-group vitamins (B12, folate, B2)
  • Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) – a calming neurotransmitter These nutrients contribute to neurological health and energy metabolism.

Please contact us at info@finestkind.co.za for more in depth information on the above.

 

 

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