Go into any restaurant or watch any commercial for a kitchen cleaning product, and enemy number one will be bacteria.
From fear of ingesting these microscopic critters, we want them as far
from our food as humanly possible. But did you know all bacteria are
not bad? In fact, strains found in yogurt can actually help you by
boosting your immune system. On top of that, yogurt’s non-bacteria
components can also assist the immune system. Here’s a look at both.
Bacteria components:
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are commonly used in yogurt production.
In the finished product, these bacteria must be alive and in
substantial amounts. Sounds scary? Not really when they strengthen your
immune system.
LAB in yogurt are healthy bacteria, which keep the gastrointestinal
tract free of disease-causing germs. In particular, they can increase
body metabolism, promote digestive functioning, and facilitate bowl
movements. Lactic acid bacteria can decrease pH in the colon lumen and
change the intestinal micro-ecological environment. Increased amounts
of LAB in the intestines can suppress the growth of pathogenic
bacteria, thereby contributing to reduction in infection.
Yogurt’s bacterial components play an important role in the immunostimulatory effects of yogurt. Frequent
consumption of yogurt can power up the body’s immune response, which
then stimulates white blood cells such as lymphocytes and macrophage,
resulting in the events like destroying cancerous growth and/or
ingesting cancer cells.
Non-bacteria components:
Yogurt is a nutrient-rich food containing high-quality protein,
vitamins (especially folic acid), and trace elements, all of which are
necessary for maintaining optimal immune response. Although milk and
yogurt have similar vitamin and mineral compositions, calcium is more
bioavailable from yogurt than from milk. Calcium can strengthen the
immune system too.
The association with cancer prevention:
It’s a complex subject. In general, yogurt’s beneficial bacteria,
any compounds produced by the friendly bacteria found in active yogurt
cultures, and other nutrients in yogurt may positively influence the
immune system, making it harder for cancer cells to survive.
Just make sure to consume the yogurt high in protein but low in fat, sugar and calories.
