Many people enjoy drinking yogurt. With its wide variety of flavors, it is highly popular. While moderate consumption of yogurt can bring many health benefits, there are also several noteworthy aspects to consider. Let's delve into the details below.
Yogurt Consumption Guidelines
1. More is not always better
Many people love yogurt so much they even treat it as a beverage, drinking several bottles a day. Experts point out that drinking more yogurt is not necessarily better. This is especially true for yogurt classified as a health food, where portion control is essential.
The Mengniu Guanyiru yogurt, for example, specifies its target users as "individuals with intestinal dysfunction or low immunity," and the recommended usage as "twice daily, one cup each time." Experts explain that health foods are functional products with specific benefits and should not be consumed in large quantities like regular foods. It is crucial to pay attention to the target audience and recommended dosage to avoid excessive consumption.
2. Don't drink on an empty stomach; drink after meals
Because stomach acid has a sterilizing effect, it's best not to drink probiotic-containing yogurt on an empty stomach. Generally, drinking it after meals is more effective. To preserve the activity of the probiotics in yogurt, it's advisable not to consume hot drinks before or after drinking it.
3. It must be refrigerated, not heated
Many people know that the countless "bacteria" in yogurt are beneficial, but they may not know how to preserve them. Experts explain that when yogurt is first produced, it is full of live bacteria, and only refrigeration can effectively maintain their viability. Some people also like to heat their yogurt before drinking, which is an even greater waste of these beneficial cultures.
4. Yogurt is not better the thicker it is
Many consumers believe that thicker yogurt is better, but in reality, much of the thickness in many yogurts comes from various thickeners such as hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate, pectin, and gelatin. While an excessive amount of thickeners may improve the texture, they offer no real health benefits.