by Donna Cosmato

Created on: May 28, 2009

Yogurt is a value-priced food that offers various health benefits, so you get more for your money. Yogurt provides benefits for diet, nutrition, and health. According to Medicine Net.com, "The first record of possible health benefits from yogurt was in the 1500s. The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire sent his doctor with a satchel of yogurt to Francois I, the king of France, to cure his intestinal disorder. It worked and yogurt's reputation as a health food was born". (Medicine Net)

Diet

Yogurt is a good source of easy-to-digest animal protein. Choose low-fat or no-fat varieties to reduce fat and calorie content, and make it part of a healthful weight loss plan. Yogurt makes a good high-protein snack or light meal. Eating lean protein is an important part of any wholesome meal planning, because protein helps stabilize blood sugar levels and satisfies appetite. Look for brands containing live cultures to obtain maximum advantage.

Yogurt's bland flavor makes it a versatile recipe ingredient because it can be mixed with other foods without overpowering their flavor. Use it as a fat substitute for baking; up to half the amount of fat can be replaced by yogurt. Decrease liquids by one-fourth cup to compensate for yogurt's liquidity.

Open a container of yogurt and you see a thin, whitish layer of liquid called whey. This is normal and does not affect the quality or safety of the product. Drain and save whey and use it as a liquid for baking to increase the nutritional value of foods like cakes, cookies, and breads. Biscuits made with whey are tender and fluffy.

Nutrition

Yogurt is packed with protein, calcium, and vital minerals like potassium and magnesium; all essential for health and wellbeing. For women at risk for osteoporosis, yogurt is a tasty way to get extra calcium. Healthy bones and teeth need calcium, and protein provides fuel to keep the body going. The National Yogurt Association states "health benefits of yogurt are high levels of calcium, protein, B12, B2, phosphorus, and riboflavin". (National Yogurt Association)

Health

Research has shown that eating yogurt may prevent health problems like: osteoporosis, bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections.

Yogurt may reduce the risk of children developing allergies, "eczema, dermatitis, and even asthma in infants". (Duke University) High blood pressure, cholesterol, and colon cancer risk is reduced by eating yogurt.

Yogurt is used to treat many illnesses like Crohns disease and irritable bowel syndrome, and success rates are promising. Severe diarrhea in infants and children responds to yogurt treatment, as do cases of constipation.

Here are some recipes so you can start enjoying the benefits of yogurt:

Homemade Yogurt

Whole Wheat Crepes with Yogurt

Art of Making a Smoothie

Helpful resource for other uses and benefits of yogurt:

http://www.helium.com/items/1424317-anti-aging-getti ng-rid-of-brown-age-spots-yogurt-lactic-acid-aha-aci ds-brown-age-spot-removal

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