Top 8 Health And Beauty Benefits Of Yogurt

Yogurt is an extremely popular dairy product made through fermentation of milk. It has been produced through centuries as a food product.

It is made through bacterial fermentation of cow’s milk, and traditional yogurt is prepared by adding two bacteria cultures to milk, namely – Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.

It is the richest natural source of probiotics that makes it a powerful home remedy for treating digestive disorders. Here, we have listed a few health benefits of natural yogurt types that makes it a truly complete food for promoting overall health.

Types of Yogurt:

Yogurt must be included as a part of any healthy and balanced diet plan because it is a rich source of live cultures along with carbohydrates, proteins and fats that are extremely beneficial for health. Some of the popular types of yogurt are listed below.

• Whole-Milk (Full-Fat) Yogurt – Low in additives and packed with nutrients such as calcium, potassium, folic acid, and vitamin A.
• Greek Yogurt- A high protein option best for weight loss
• Icelandic Yogurt – A high protein and low-fat option with very low sugar

• European-Style Yogurt – Is of thin consistency and is loaded with live bacterial cultures, protein, calcium and potassium
• Lactose-free Yogurt- Cow milk yogurt without milk sugar, ideal for those with lactose intolerance
• Low-Fat and Nonfat Yogurts – Low in fat and high in potassium, ideal for controlling high blood pressure

Amazing Benefits of Yogurt for Health and Beauty

Yogurt is a fantastic natural source of health benefiting nutrients, vitamins and minerals that helps in improving digestion, bone health, immune functions and also promotes healthy skin and hair.

Natural Probiotic Food

One of the most important benefits of yogurt is that it is a great natural source of probiotics that helps in treating digestive disorders.

Yogurt is a fermented dairy product that holds live and active cultures – healthy bacteria and microorganisms that treat digestive disorders and intestinal infections.

It kills the harmful microorganisms and improves the immune system. Regular intake of natural yogurt can help treat diarrhea, constipation, IBS, bloating and gas.

But it is best to stick to unflavored, naturals options for maximizing its effectiveness.

Aids Weight Loss

Burning calories and having a fit body is possible only through a combination of a well-planned weight loss diet and exercise but there are certain foods that can help speed up the process of calorie burn in the body.

Yogurt is one such food that promotes weight loss and helps in having a flat belly. The calcium present in yogurt promotes the fat cells to release less cortisol, thus, helping you to burn calories more efficiently.

In addition, the amino acids present in plain yogurt also helps in burning fat and promotes the development of lean muscle mass – a crucial part of healthy weight loss.

Amazing Post-Workout Food

One of the most incredible health benefits of yogurt is that it is an amazing post-workout food that helps in speeding up muscle and tissue recovery after workouts.

Types of yogurt that are rich in protein and carbohydrates, such as Greek yogurt are the best option for this purpose.

The carbohydrates present in yogurt improve the energy supply to the muscles while the proteins contain amino acids that help in recovering and repairing the muscles and tissues.

Therefore, make it a point to consume a cup of natural Greek yogurt within 30 minutes of finishing off your workout session to maximize its effectiveness.

Prevents Vaginal Infection

One of the facts about yogurt is that its regular consumption can help in treating vaginal infection. Vaginal infection caused by yeast and Candida are common problems for women suffering from diabetes.

The active cultures Lactobacillus acidophilus present in yogurt helps in fighting infection causing microorganisms and lactic acid present in yogurt helps in balancing the pH of the vagina.

Therefore, make it a point to include natural, active culture rich yogurt in your daily diet to treat yeast infections and prevent its reoccurrence.

Prevents Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disorder which causes increased loss of bone density leading to extremely brittle bones. It is more common among women who are in the stage of menopause.

Daily consumption of foods rich in calcium and vitamin D can help in preventing osteoporosis and treating the problem effectively. Dairy products, especially yogurt is a rich source of calcium and vitamin D that can help in preventing osteoporosis and other bone diseases by improving bone density and strength.

Therefore, it is important to include yogurt in the daily diet of children for promoting stronger bones and elderly for preventing loss of bone density.

Controls High Blood Pressure

Yogurt nutritional benefits also include controlling high blood pressure. It is known that excessive sodium intake is one of the major reasons for hypertension but sadly, modern day diet rich in processed and ready-to-eat foods are usually high in sodium.

Yogurt is a rich source of the mineral potassium; an 8 ounce cup contains approximately 600 milligrams of potassium that helps in restoring the potassium-sodium balance by flushing out excess sodium from the body.

Therefore, try to consume at least 2 to 3 servings of low-fat yogurt each day to lower the risk of developing high blood pressure by 50%.

Nourishing the Skin

Benefits of yogurt for skin are numerous. Zinc and lactic acid present in yogurt make it an ideal home remedy for bright and glowing skin.

It helps in removing dead cells, reducing the size of open pores and tightening wrinkles and fine lines to give your skin a youthful and younger appearance. Natural yogurt can be used as a face mask to rejuvenate and rehydrate dry skin.

Yogurt mask benefits include exfoliation and hydration of dry, dull skin, treatment for acne and pimples, removal of tan and under-eye dark circles and soothing sunburns. But make it a point to use unflavored and unsweetened yogurt.

Natural Hair Conditioner

The benefits of yogurt for hair are endless. The high protein content in natural yogurt makes it an amazing natural hair conditioner for rejuvenating dry and rough hair.

It is also an effective home remedy for dandruff and itchy scalp.

Applying yogurt mixed with lemon juice can help in nourishing frizzy, unmanageable hair and improve nutrient supply to the hair follicles to prevent hair fall, improve strength and elasticity of hair strands to reduce breakage and split ends and promote hair growth.

Therefore, include yogurt in your daily hair care regime to improve the overall quality of your tresses.

So, now that you know the various types of yogurt and its effective health benefits; chose your preferred option and include it in your daily diet to improve overall health and get great skin and hair.