Yogurt is a dairy product that is even more delicious than milk. As more and more people consume it, misconceptions about it have never decreased. Below, the editor lists a few to debunk them.
1. Feeling full? Drinking yogurt can aid digestion
In the eyes of many, yogurt is a great food for promoting digestion. When someone has eaten too much, they might reach for a yogurt. Indeed, yogurt helps promote gastrointestinal motility and the secretion of digestive fluids, and regular consumption can certainly help improve digestion. However, it is not recommended to drink yogurt after you are already full, because yogurt itself is very filling. Drinking it after a large meal can actually increase the feeling of fullness and is not conducive to digestion.
Furthermore, yogurt itself contains a certain amount of calories. Consuming extra calories after being full can also lead to weight gain.
2. Yogurt is less effective than milk for calcium supplementation
When it comes to calcium supplementation, more people think of milk rather than yogurt. In fact, under normal circumstances, yogurt has a higher calcium content than milk. During the fermentation process, lactic acid bacteria break down the lactose in milk into lactic acid, reducing the lactose content but retaining other nutrients in milk. Therefore, yogurt still has a calcium-supplementing effect. Moreover, the absorption rate of calcium in yogurt is no lower than that in milk; it may even be higher. This is because lactic acid and peptides, substances produced from the breakdown of protein, can both promote calcium absorption.
3. Diabetics cannot drink yogurt
The sugar content of yogurt is slightly higher than that of milk, so it is considered a "forbidden item" for diabetics. In fact, although sugar is added to yogurt, its blood sugar-raising speed is not fast. This is because the lactic acid in yogurt can delay gastric emptying, helping to control postprandial blood sugar. Additionally, yogurt is rich in calcium, and calcium helps with the normal release of insulin, thereby helping to balance blood sugar. Therefore, diabetics can drink one cup of yogurt (about 125 grams) daily. If they are concerned about blood sugar, they can opt for low-sugar yogurt.
4. Thickeners in yogurt cause "thick blood"
There are many types of thickeners in yogurt, including pectin, agar, and edible gelatin. They are not digestible or absorbable by the human body and belong to insoluble dietary fiber. They are not only non-toxic and harmless but will not cause "thick blood"; on the contrary, they are beneficial components that help slow the rise of postprandial blood sugar and blood lipids, which is conducive to preventing chronic diseases. The safety of thickeners is generally very high, so their usage is not restricted in many foods, and the amount used in yogurt also meets relevant national standards.
5. Drinking yogurt will not make you fat
Many people believe in the method of losing weight by drinking yogurt. On one hand, yogurt can increase intestinal motility, and on the other hand, it is believed to have a fat-burning effect. Therefore, many people choose to drink yogurt for weight loss and believe that it will not make them fat, often consuming large amounts at once.
Although yogurt does have a weight-loss effect, looking at its ingredients reveals that it also contains a certain amount of fat and sugar. If you drink a large amount of yogurt, its ability to improve the body's absorption capacity means that the fat and sugar in the yogurt will be fully absorbed, leading to an increase in calorie intake. Therefore, drinking too much yogurt can also lead to weight gain. It is best not to exceed 300 milliliters per serving of yogurt to avoid gaining weight.