Yogurt: You Bet, But From Whence Did It Come?

Where does yogurt come from and why is it considered so healthy to eat it? Who were the first people to eat it? Read on, no matter who's side you are on and however you may feel about good bacteria or bad.

Although yogurt can be found on the shelves of any supermarket anywhere, its origins lie in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia where the native population has been eating it for centuries. Yogurt is one of the first foods in the world promoted because of its possible health benefits. As long ago as 1908, E. Metchnikov wrote in his book, “The Prolongation of Life” that longevity among those living in the Caucasus Mountains was due largely to the yogurt they were making and eating. This conclusion had been a moot point for until recent years and the advent of an understanding of the connection between probiotics (foods that contain live bacteria) diet and health. According to The Dairy Council of Canada, yogurt is strictly defined as a milk product produced by the action of two bacteria, Streptococcus thermophillus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Today it may also contain two additional bacteria, bifido bacteria and lactobacillus casei. In order to be effective, the bacteria in yogurt must be alive when it is consumed. This can only be guaranteed if other factors are present, such as proper production, packaging, storing, shipping and refrigeration. The bacteria must also be consumed in large numbers continuously. Eating yogurt regularly indicates that the bacteria present in yogurt are in the intestines where they most benefit the host (that’s you.) Stop eating yogurt and very soon they are all eliminated. There are other products on the market that contain live bacteria as well. Some of these include: kefir, acidophilus milk and fermented vegetables. And so… what are YOU waiting for? Go out and get some healthy bacteria today!