We Asked A Doctor About The Medical Benefits Of Eating Greek Yogurt
This week Food Republic is paying tribute to all things Greek yogurt, which might just be the most important foodstuff in the world right now. Next up, we asked a medical professional, Dr. Jason Ough M.D., about why eating Greek yogurt might save your life six times over.
Yogurt is pretty much an amazing food. You've most likely seen yogurt packaging advertising the "live and active cultures" present within. These bacterial cultures can do all kinds of good in your body, including helping maintain the natural bacteria that lives in your gut, and even protect you against certain known carcinogens. What's more, studies have found that diets high in calcium (of which yogurt is a rich source) have also been associated with lower risks of colorectal cancer.
Some doctors recommend eating yogurt daily while taking antibiotics — this is because most antibiotics will kill all bacteria, good or bad. Having a daily yogurt can also help protect and support "good" bacterial growth in your colon. It's also great for other digestive maladies, and can help recovery after intestinal infections and diarrhea.
Yogurt has also been shown to work other wonders, including boosting immunity and improving the intestinal absorption of other nutrients (such as vitamins B6 and B12).
So what makes Greek yogurt so special? You get all of the aforementioned benefits, in a concentrated form. There's less lactose (so it's easier to digest), less sugar (so there's fewer carbs and calories) and more protein — all of which are great for the diet-conscious.
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