Probiotic Yogurt

Many foods contain probiotics, but none are as well known and accepted as yogurt. All yogurt, however, is not considered equal. While it's true that all yogurt contains probiotics, there are certain probiotic yogurt varieties that have specifically been enriched to contain far more live cultures than regular yogurt and other dairy products.

That being said, choosing to eat yogurt for probiotics still requires a little bit of research. Because not everyone needs the same amount of probiotics, choosing a yogurt that contains that amount you need may be a challenge. Even branded probiotic yogurt fails to give a measure of how much bacteria it contains on the label of the actual product. However, a little preliminary research on the websites of the brands you may be considering often will provide you with the information you need, such as how many live cultures it is estimated to contain and what strains of probiotics are present.

Most yogurt contains two common strains of probiotics, while marketed probiotic yogurt often contains a third, usually lactobacillus acidophilus or the bifidobacterium bifidus regularis. Many people believe that probiotic yogurt may support:

As with any changes to your diet, it is important to speak with your health care provider before adding probiotic yogurt to your health plan. He or she may be able to help you determine your specific needs and help you create a customized health plan that will promote optimum health.