Yogurt, generally referring to sour milk, is a dairy product made from fresh milk. It undergoes pasteurization, then beneficial bacteria (a starter culture) are added, and after fermentation, it is cooled and packaged. Currently, yogurt products on the market are mostly of the set type, stirred type, and fruit-flavored type with various added juices and jams. Many people know that drinking yogurt is beneficial for health, but not everyone knows how to drink it correctly and scientifically. Yogurt should not be consumed on an empty stomach
Why is it not advisable to drink yogurt on an empty stomach? This is because the pH value of a person's gastric juice is usually between 1 and 3. When the stomach is empty, the pH value drops below 2. However, the active lactic acid bacteria in yogurt require a pH value above 5.4 to thrive. If you drink yogurt on an empty stomach, the lactic acid bacteria can be easily killed by stomach acid, significantly reducing its nutritional value and health benefits. If you drink yogurt after a meal, the gastric juice is diluted, and the pH value rises to 3-5, which is an ideal environment for the growth of lactic acid bacteria. It is especially effective to drink yogurt within 2 hours after a meal. Yogurt cannot be heated before drinking
Once yogurt is heated or boiled, the large amount of active lactic acid bacteria it contains will be killed. Its physical properties will also change, causing separation and precipitation, and the unique flavor and texture of yogurt will disappear. The most valuable component in yogurt is the lactic acid bacteria. They not only break down the lactose in milk to produce lactic acid, increasing the acidity of the intestines, but also inhibit the growth of spoilage bacteria and reduce the toxins they produce in the intestines. If yogurt is heated, the lactic acid bacteria will be killed, diminishing its nutritional value and health benefits. Therefore, yogurt should not be heated. In summer, it is best to buy and drink it fresh. In winter, it can be left at room temperature for a while before drinking. Rinse your mouth with water after drinking
Certain bacterial strains and acidic substances in yogurt can be harmful to teeth. For children, it is especially easy to develop cavities if they do not rinse their mouths after drinking yogurt. Do not take medicine with yogurt
It is an incorrect habit to use yogurt instead of water to take medicine and this should be corrected. Especially, yogurt should not be used to take antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and sulfonamides, or some medications for treating diarrhea, as these drugs can also destroy or kill the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt.