Yogurt has always been an important part of our daily diet no matter what the weather is. But have we actually ever understood its many benefits for our health and well being? Well its time to take our daily meal companion quite seriously!
Yogurt is one miracle food that we all include in our diet in one or the other form but, does we all know that yogurt is loaded with the goodness of power boosting protein and bone-building calcium. Right from helping you in losing weight to fending off that cold, yogurt can be your answer to many health concerns.
So, to help you in getting acquainted with the benefits of yogurt, we have compiled a list of the same along with how much your should eat, because, as experts say, the excess of everything can be harmful and so goes for yogurt too.
Also, no matter whether you are going for organic yogurt, Greek yogurt or yogurt made from soy, the results will remain almost the same and you will get to see them instantly too.
Yogurt And Flat Abs
Have you been working hard to get flat six pack abs for a while but unable to see the desired results? Then eat 18 ounces of yogurt every day and you will easily drop a jeans size. According to a research done by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, people who ate 18 ounces of yogurt every day in conjunction with their controlled calorie intake, they not only managed to lose 22 percent more weight but also lost 81 percent more belly fat as compared to those who went on a diet or skipped snacking. They also retained one-third more lean muscle mass as compared to others.
When you eat yogurt, the calcium content present in it signals fat cells to produce less cortisol, thus making it easier to lose weight. Amino acids present in yogurt help in burning fat, which is one of the many benefits of yogurt for weight loss.
Image Source: www.mamiverse.com
Yogurt Contains Good For Your Bacteria
If your yogurt carton says ‘live and active cultures’ it means it contains probiotics, which are nothing but good bacteria found in your digestive tract. These bugs help in removing harmful microorganisms that can cause intestinal infections. Though a very small amount of yogurt manufacturing companies actually put the yogurt under pasteurization to kill bacteria, the majority of manufacturers instead focus on inclusion of probiotics that can help in regulating digestion and strengthen the immune system. So, if you are suffering from health problems like diarrhea and bloating then include the yogurt nutrition in your diet and see results in a couple of weeks.
Yogurt Fastens Recovery After Workout
If you have been relying heavily on post workout nutrition for muscle recovery, then consider replacing them with Greek yogurt, which includes a high amount of carbohydrates and protein that makes it an excellent post sweat session snack. Grab a container of protein-rich Greek yogurt within 60 minutes after your workout session. The protein content of Greek yogurt provides essential amino acids to your muscles to help them repair themselves, whereas the carbohydrate content replaces your muscles energy stores, which are often left depleted after an intense workout. Drink a bottle of water along with it as a bonus, which will help in improving hydration.
Yogurt is Loaded With Vitamins
The percentage of natural nutrients in yogurt is very high and one serving of yogurt is full provides a significant amount of potassium, phosphorous, iodine, zinc, riboflavin, vitamin B5 and vitamin B12, which helps in maintaining red blood cell count in the body and ensures that the nervous system is functioning properly. So, if you are facing a deficiency of any of these natural nutrients then yogurt can help in bridging the gap. An 8 ounce serving of yogurt contains approximately 1.4 micrograms of the vitamin, which is about 60 percent of the total amount of vitamin needed by women on daily basis.
Image Source: www.thealternativedaily.com
Eating Yogurt Prevents High Blood Pressure
Every day we end up consuming twice the amount of recommended dosage of salt, which over the time leads to hypertension, heart, and kidney related health disorders. The high potassium content of yogurt, almost 600 milligrams per 8 ounces, can help in flushing out excess sodium from the body and lessens the chances of developing high blood pressure.
Yogurt Keeps Colds Away
We often question is yogurt good for health when we are suffering from the cold? And many of you will answer this in NO, but the fact is nutrients contained in yogurt can greatly help you in staying sniffle-free during any season. A study conducted by the University of Vienna has proved that women who eat yogurt on a regular basis have much stronger active T cells, which help in fighting illness and infections. The healthy bacteria present in yogurt sends signals to the immune system every time a harmful bug tries to power up in the body. The study also revealed that people with low level of T cells are more prone to infections.
No matter what kind of yogurt you love to have in your diet, make sure it low in fat, else you will end up piling some extra pounds for no reason. Also, one of the best ways of including yogurt in your diet to reap its many health benefits is to relish it in the form of delicious smoothies.
Yogurt Health: Nutritional Content
Quantity: 6 ounces
Calories: 100 to 150 calories (stick to low fat versions)
Fat: 3.5 grams for low-fat versions
Saturated Fat: 2 grams or less
Protein: 8 to 10 grams at least
Sugar: 20 grams or less
Calcium: 20% of the daily requirement
Vitamin D: 20% of the daily value
