Among all dairy products in China, yogurt probably has the most variety. Various flavors of yogurt are very popular among children and women. Especially in the summer, drinking a cool and delicious yogurt is both nutritious and helps to stimulate the appetite and relieve summer heat. However, various yogurt producers are currently engaged in a major competition over "bacteria."
Take a look at the major supermarkets in Zhengzhou, and you will find that various "bacteria"-related terms that look very professional and are incomprehensible to ordinary citizens are the main features on yogurt packaging. "Probiotics," "lactic acid bacteria," "Bifidobacterium"... there are no fewer than 10 names. Yogurt producers also seem to be using the health functions of these "bacteria" as selling points. But the citizens of Zhengzhou are also confused about these "bacteria." What exactly are these various "bacteria"? What are the differences? What benefits will they have for the body?
Which "bacteria" should you choose when buying yogurt?
● Yogurt producers are now competing over "bacteria"
In the afternoon of June 26, in a large supermarket at the intersection of Jingwu Road and Fengchan Road, a reporter saw in the dairy section that various brands of yogurt occupied most of the cold cabinets in the dairy section. "LABS Probiotic Group," "AB100," "BE80," "LGG," "BB-12 Active Bifidobacterium," "Longgen B Bacteria," "Bifidus Factor," etc. Some yogurts not only specify the names of the bacteria but also the quantity, such as "containing 10 billion active probiotics per kilogram," and claim that the bacteria strains are imported, pure, and highly active.
Some advertisements also heavily promote the digestive and various health functions of each bacterial strain. For example, one manufacturer promotes the LGG ingredient in its yogurt as having health functions such as "balancing and improving gastrointestinal function," "enhancing the body's own immune system," "detoxifying," and "preventing cavities."
Which "bacteria" should you choose when buying yogurt?
● Consumers: The array of "bacteria" is dazzling
However, the bacterial strains indicated on these yogurts are difficult for most consumers to understand and distinguish. In the supermarket, the reporter found that although probiotic-added yogurts are more than twice the price of regular yogurt, quite a few citizens still choose this type of product. Slogans on yogurt packaging like "balancing and improving gastrointestinal function," "enhancing the body's own immune system," "detoxifying," and "preventing cavities" have attracted many consumers. Promoters for various yogurt brands often emphasize that a certain bacterial strain is exclusive to their brand.
"This one contains a special probiotic group, so it should be more effective than regular yogurt," a lady who was shopping said after comparing and chose a "probiotic" yogurt. But she didn't know what probiotics actually were, let alone distinguish the differences between the so-called probiotics: "I heard it aids digestion and is also good for brain development, so I'm buying it for my child."
● No need to be superstitious about "bacteria"
"The principle of making yogurt is actually very simple: it's made by adding lactic acid streptococcus or lactic acid bacillus to milk and fermenting it," said Fu Sanxian, an associate chief physician in the nutrition department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The nutritional components of yogurt and milk are not very different, mainly calcium and protein. Although the bacterial strains added to yogurt are numerous, their functions are largely the same, mainly helping the human body's digestion and absorption. It is especially suitable for people with poor digestive function, digestive disorders, and lactose intolerance. "For a normal person with a comprehensive and balanced diet, the body already has a certain number of beneficial bacteria and a balanced bacterial system. If you supplement too many of these 'probiotics,' it will disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, which in turn can reduce digestive function," Fu emphasized.
Xue Yuzhu, a deputy chief nutritionist at the Nutrition Clinic of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Zhengzhou, said that research on probiotics is still ongoing. Some findings are mature, while others are still being studied. However, based on current research results, various probiotics do have certain health functions, such as enhancing gastrointestinal function and the ability of bacterial strains to absorb intestinal toxins, making them very suitable for people with poor stomachs and a weak constitution. But as for whether they can have health effects as claimed in advertisements, such as "detoxifying and beautifying," "preventing cancer and aiding weight loss," "enhancing immunity," and "preventing cavities," there is still a lack of reliable experimental evidence.
"In fact, if consumed on an empty stomach, most probiotics cannot withstand the strong acid of gastric juice and are killed, so they cannot reach the intestine to take effect. Moreover, if the storage environment for yogurt cannot guarantee low temperatures, it will also cause a large number of active probiotics to die during storage," Fu Sanxian said. Therefore, there is no need to be superstitious about the probiotics in yogurt. Just choose the dairy product that is suitable for you.