Yogurt, a healthy dairy product frequently consumed by people, is lauded for numerous benefits such as supplementing calcium and regulating the digestive system. However, did you know that if you fall into the误区 (misconceptions) of drinking yogurt, not only will it fail to provide health benefits, but it can also be detrimental to your health.
误区一：酸奶等于酸奶饮料 (Misconception One: Yogurt Equals Yogurt Drink)
酸奶不等于酸奶饮料 (Yogurt is not the same as yogurt drink)
Today, there is a dazzling array of yogurt varieties, and yogurt drinks are also emerging endlessly. Yogurt is made from high-quality milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria. Yogurt drinks, on the other hand, are just a type of beverage, not milk or yogurt. The nutritional content of the two differs greatly; the nutritional value of a yogurt drink is only about one-third that of yogurt.
误区二：喝酸奶越多越健康 (Misconception Two: The More Yogurt You Drink, the Healthier You Are)
喝酸奶应注意适可而止 (Drinking yogurt should be done in moderation)
Drinking yogurt should be done in moderation; otherwise, it can easily lead to excessive stomach acid, affecting the gastric mucosa and the secretion of digestive enzymes, reducing appetite, and disrupting the body's electrolyte balance. This is especially true for those who normally have excess stomach acid, often feel weak and cold in the spleen and stomach, or experience bloating, as they should not drink it in large quantities.
For healthy individuals, drinking one or two cups a day, which is about 250-500 grams, is more appropriate.
误区三：酸奶比牛奶更有营养 (Misconception Three: Yogurt is More Nutritious Than Milk)
酸奶不比牛奶更有营养 (Yogurt is not more nutritious than milk)
In fact, in terms of nutritional value, there is not a huge difference between the two. However, compared to milk, yogurt is easier to digest and absorb, which increases the utilization rate of its nutrients. Furthermore, most of the sugar in milk is lactose. Some adults lack the lactase enzyme in their digestive juices, which affects the digestion, absorption, and utilization of lactose, causing stomach discomfort or even diarrhea after drinking milk, a condition known as "lactose intolerance." In such cases, yogurt can be used as a substitute for milk.
误区四：酸奶与其他食物巧搭配 (Misconception Four: Yogurt can be cleverly paired with other foods)
酸奶搭配要注意 (Pay attention to yogurt pairings)
Yogurt pairs well with many foods, especially for breakfast with bread and pastries, offering a mix of dry and wet textures for a delicious and nutritious meal. However, never eat it with high-fat processed meats like sausages and cured meats. This is because processed meats contain nitrites, which can react with amines in yogurt to form nitrosamines, carcinogens. Yogurt is also not suitable to be taken with certain medications, such as antibiotics like chloramphenicol and erythromycin, and sulfonamides, as they can kill or destroy the lactic acid bacteria in yogurt. Yogurt is very suitable to be paired with starchy foods, such as rice, noodles, steamed buns, and bread.
误区五：酸奶可以充饥 (Misconception Five: Yogurt can be used to satisfy hunger)
空腹不易喝酸奶 (It's not advisable to drink yogurt on an empty stomach)
When the stomach is empty, its acidity is high, and the unique lactic acid bacteria in yogurt can be easily killed by stomach acid, significantly weakening its health benefits. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink yogurt on an empty stomach. The best time to drink yogurt is 1-2 hours after a meal.
误区六：喝酸奶老少皆宜 (Misconception Six: Yogurt is suitable for all ages)
幼儿不宜喝酸奶 (Yogurt is not suitable for young children)
Although yogurt is good, it is not suitable for everyone. Patients with diarrhea or other intestinal diseases should be cautious when drinking yogurt after intestinal damage. Children under 1 year old should not drink yogurt.
In addition, patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis should avoid drinking full-fat, sugar-containing yogurt, as it can easily aggravate their condition.