Yogurt has become a popular choice for beverages at hot pot buffets recently. Not only is it nutritious with a rich and unique flavor, but it also offers special gastrointestinal protection and regulation for hot pot enthusiasts. The most enjoyable aspects of eating hot pot are the heat, the spiciness, and the freshness. The heat and spiciness can be irritating to the gastrointestinal tract. If not consumed with care, they can damage the gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to what's known as "hot pot sickness." Some people, in pursuit of a tender texture, only briefly dip vegetables in the hot pot, which fails to kill the bacteria and parasites in the food, potentially causing infection.
With its delicate and smooth texture, yogurt is not only nutritious but also provides excellent protection for the stomach and intestines. Yogurt contains lactic acid bacteria that are beneficial for gastrointestinal health. These bacteria acidify the intestinal cavity, inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria, and reduce the production of toxins by these bacteria, thereby preventing and treating digestive disorders such as constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. [China Food]
The combined action of three types of active lactic acid bacteria in yogurt—*Streptococcus thermophilus*, *Lactobacillus bulgaricus*, and *Bifidobacterium*—provides a more powerful effect in suppressing harmful intestinal bacteria. Moreover, they can multiply and enter the small intestine in large quantities with a high survival rate, playing a significant role in improving gastrointestinal function.
Nutrition experts explain that the acetic acid and lactic acid produced by these three types of active lactic acid bacteria acidify the intestinal cavity, which promotes peristalsis in the digestive tract. This helps to better prevent and treat digestive disorders like constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These bacteria also secrete various enzymes that transform insoluble proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into soluble substances, promoting digestion and aiding in the absorption and utilization of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and iron, as well as elements like vitamin D.
In addition, many people have the habit of drinking beer with hot pot. Yogurt contains a special class of chemicals called phospholipids, which can form a thick, hydrophobic layer on the surface of the gastric mucosa. This layer resists the erosion of various external factors, such as alcohol, thereby protecting the gastric mucosa.