Three ideal times to eat yogurt

For peopleFor illnesses after antibiotic use, stomach aches, or picky eating in children, yogurt can offer many great benefits.

According to Dr. Ngo Thi Ha Phuong from the National Institute of Nutrition, yogurt is essentially fresh cow's milk or milk prepared according to a formula that is fermented with beneficial bacteria strains for the gut. However, it is only beneficial when consumed at the right time.

Accordingly, the main process that occurs in yogurt fermentation is the conversion of lactose into glucose, which is then converted into pyruvic acid, and finally into lactic acid. Yogurt has high nutritional value, containing a full range of proteins (with many essential amino acids, especially lysine), carbohydrates, lipids, minerals (especially calcium), and vitamins, mainly B vitamins and vitamin A.

According to Doctor Phuong, in addition to its nutritional value, yogurt also has good medicinal value, especially for intestinal diseases.

This food provides the body with a large amount of beneficial bacteria (lactobacillus acidophilus and bifido bacterium), which helps protect the digestive system and boost immunity. Some bacteria in yogurt even produce antibiotics that can kill harmful bacteria in the gut.

Yogurt is a delicious and nutritious food. Photo: Authoritynutrition.

Yogurt is especially suitable for the elderly, children, those recovering from illness, and especially those with digestive problems. It's particularly beneficial during the following periods:

- When antibiotics are misused or abused, it disrupts the balance of gut bacteria, making the body more susceptible to illness. In this case, yogurt is very effective in restoring the balance of gut bacteria.

However, supplementation should be done immediately after a course of antibiotics, not during the course. This is because while antibiotics are trying to kill bacteria, probiotics do the opposite by providing beneficial bacteria to the gut, hindering the antibiotic's ability to kill bacteria.

- People with stomach ulcers (gastric pain) often have to take antacids, which causes gas-producing bacteria to accumulate, making the stomach feel bloated and uncomfortable. In this case, yogurt helps relieve bloating by pushing the gas down and restoring the stomach's acidity.

- For children with diarrhea or poor appetite, yogurt can restore the balance of bacteria in the gut, and the antibiotic lactocidine helps treat diarrhea. Yogurt is easy to digest, making it very suitable for children with poor appetite.

Dr. Phuong noted that children should only eat yogurt after meals, because the beneficial bacteria in yogurt thrive at a pH level greater than or equal to 4.5. When children are hungry, the pH in their stomach is only 2, so eating yogurt at this time would destroy the beneficial bacteria. After eating, the stomach contracts strongly, the pH increases, creating an ideal environment for beneficial bacteria to function well.

According to Zing