9 Important Things to Know About Drinking Yogurt

Many people enjoy drinking yogurt, which is also rich in nutritional value and health benefits. However, there are some precautions to be aware of when consuming yogurt; otherwise, this healthy drink could become a threat to your life!

9 Important Things to Note When Drinking Yogurt

1. More is not always better

Many people love yogurt and even treat it as a beverage, drinking several bottles a day. Experts point out that drinking more yogurt is not necessarily better, especially for yogurt classified as a health food, where portion control is essential. The Mengniu Guanyiru yogurt, for example, indicates that it is suitable for "people with intestinal dysfunction or low immunity" and should be taken "twice daily, one cup at a time." Experts explain that health foods are functional foods with specific benefits and should not be consumed in large quantities like regular foods. It's important to pay attention to the target audience, dosage, and not to overconsume.

2. It should only be refrigerated, not heated

Many people know that the countless "bacteria" in yogurt are beneficial, but they don't know how to preserve them. Professor Nan Qingxian explains that when yogurt is first produced, it is full of live bacteria, and only refrigeration can keep them alive. Some people even like to heat their yogurt before drinking, which is an even greater waste.

3. For fruit yogurt, add your own fruit

Experts from Ya Jing remind us that if you want to enhance the flavor of your yogurt, it's better to add your own ingredients at home. Fruit toppings, jams, and purees go through multiple processing stages, so their naturalness is not as good as fresh fruit. To add flavor, try chopping up fresh fruit and adding it to your yogurt at home.

DIY Fruit Yogurt Cup

4. Yogurt is not better the thicker it is

Many consumers believe that thicker yogurt is better, but in reality, much of the thickness comes from various thickeners like hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, pectin, and gelatin. While these thickeners improve the texture, they offer no real health benefits.

5. Yogurt should not be随意搭配 with other foods

Yogurt pairs well with many foods, especially for breakfast with bread or pastries, which is not only delicious but also nutritious. However, yogurt should not be taken with certain medications, such as antibiotics like chloramphenicol and erythromycin, or sulfonamides, as these can kill or destroy the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt. Yogurt is, however, a great match for starchy foods like rice, noodles, buns, steamed buns, and bread.

6. Don't rely on yogurt for weight loss

Because yogurt contains a large number of active lactic acid bacteria, it can effectively regulate the body's bacterial balance and promote gastrointestinal motility, thereby relieving constipation. Studies have shown a correlation between chronic constipation and weight gain. Yogurt also has a certain satiating effect; drinking a glass when slightly hungry can effectively curb cravings and reduce the amount of food consumed in the next meal.

However, yogurt itself contains calories. If you eat it in addition to your regular diet, there is still a risk of weight gain. The best approach is to choose yogurt labeled as "fat-free" or "low-calorie." Although they may not be as rich and full-bodied as whole-fat yogurt, they have fewer calories and are less likely to cause weight gain.

DIY Old-Fashioned Yogurt

7. Ham + lactic acid drinks can increase cancer risk

People who often have sandwiches with yogurt for breakfast should be cautious. The ham, bacon, etc., in sandwiches, when consumed with lactic acid drinks (containing organic acids), can easily lead to cancer. To preserve processed meats like sausages, ham, bacon, and cured meats, manufacturers add nitrates to prevent spoilage and the growth of botulinum. When nitrates come into contact with organic acids (lactic, citric, tartaric, malic acids, etc.), they can convert into a carcinogenic substance called nitrosamine.

8. Don't use yogurt to satisfy hunger

When you're starving, you might quickly grab a yogurt and drink it all at once? While this can temporarily relieve hunger, it's best not to use yogurt as a meal replacement. When your stomach is empty, its acidity is high (pH level 2), and the lactic acid bacteria unique to yogurt can be easily killed by stomach acid, significantly diminishing its health benefits.

It's better to drink yogurt 1-2 hours after a meal! At this time, stomach acid is diluted, and the pH level is ideal for the growth of lactic acid bacteria. Additionally, there are more benefits to drinking yogurt at night. Remember to brush your teeth after drinking yogurt, especially at night, as certain bacterial strains and acidic substances in yogurt can be harmful to your teeth.

9. Yogurt is not suitable for everyone

In fact, while yogurt is good, it's not suitable for everyone. People with diarrhea or other intestinal diseases should be cautious when drinking yogurt after intestinal damage. Babies under 1 year old should also not drink yogurt. Furthermore, diabetics, patients with atherosclerosis, and those with cholecystitis and pancreatitis should avoid full-fat, sugary yogurt, as it can worsen their condition. Groups that can benefit from drinking more yogurt include: frequent drinkers, smokers, people who work long hours on computers, those with chronic constipation, patients on antibiotics, people with osteoporosis, and individuals with cardiovascular diseases.

Jasmine Tea Yogurt