FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Y for Yoghurt

 You have it as a refreshing drink in summer; you dip your chapatti in its tangy, spicy variant; and you soak your rice in its thinner flavoured form — yes, yoghurt is one of the most popular dairy products, always present on our dining tables during meals.

Yoghurt is a fermented dairy product containing live bacterial cultures that have proven to be beneficial for health. Not only is it rich in calcium, iodine, phosphorous, vitamin B2 or riboflavin and protein, but it is also an integral part of a complete Pakistani meal.

On average, one cup or 245 grams of yoghurt contains 58.1 per cent iodine and around 44 per cent calcium. Anyone wanting to increase their calcium, iodine or protein intake can simply substitute their supplements with a cup or small tub of yoghurt.

But the specialty of yoghurt remains to be the teeming load of healthy bacteria that is present in it. The bacteria abundant in yoghurt help boost a person's immune response and fortify the immune system. One study has also found that lactobacillus casei, a friendly bacteria found in yoghurt can help improve the body's ability to fight pneumonia.

The active cultures found in yoghurt encourage the right kind of bacteria to multiply in the stomach, the antibiotic qualities of which help combat and prevent infections. Yoghurt can also prevent diarrhoea and dysentery because of the high levels of prostaglandins it contains.

The healthy bacteria in yoghurt known as probiotics not only increase cellular immunity but are also said to have a positive effect on metabolism. In its role of bolstering cellular immunity, some researchers have suggested that yoghurt can protect and prevent certain types of cancer.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition pointed out that the immuno-stimulatory effects of yoghurt prevent diseases such as cancer, infection, gastrointestinal disorders and asthma. The lactobacillus in yoghurt has also been found to improve respiratory illnesses.

Probiotics found in yoghurt have proven to be particularly helpful in treating gastrointestinal problems like ulcers and inflammatory bowel diseases. Interestingly, probiotics can also help prevent food poisoning. Hence it is always a good idea to devour a healthy cup of yoghurt after you have given in to your temptations and indulged in that not-so-hygienic kebab roll. Yoghurt consumption can also be a means for preventing osteoporosis because of its high calcium content. And it is not just calcium that makes yoghurt bone-friendly. Lectoferrin, an iron building protein present in yoghurt also helps build bones.

Yoghurt has long been used as an important food item to promote health and treat various diseases. A century ago, a Russian microbiologist by the name of Elie Metchnikoff put forward the finding that the consumption of live microbes present in fermented milk products may in part be responsible for the long life of certain ethnic groups.

Yoghurt is an ideal food item for people of all ages. You can have it plain, or mix it with fruits or vegetables or top it with syrups, nuts or herbs. It can be presented and eaten in a myriad of different forms. Have it with lunch or as a dessert. And you can be sure that as you savour its smooth texture and taste, it will work its way through your body improving your health in many ways.