Yogurt is so high in protein that it can support muscle strength and bone health, says Brittany Model RD, owner of nutrition and wellness in New York City. “Protein is a component of muscle, bone, cartilage, skin and blood,” she said, adding that it also helps you feel full longer.
Yogurt can also help you meet your daily calcium needs, says Nelson.
“Calcium is essential for vasoconstriction, muscle function, neurotransmission, and cell signaling,” Modell adds. “It’s also very important for bone health.”
Some brands of yogurt are fortified with vitamin D, or other vitamins and minerals, which are essential nutrients for skeletal development and regulation of calcium and phosphorus.
Finally, and importantly, yogurt is loved for its probiotic properties, a by-product of fermentation. When “starter” bacteria are added to milk to make it, those that survive digestion (and sometimes added after pasteurization) are by restoring the gut microbiota with the “good bacteria” it needs. It is believed to improve digestive health.
Think of probiotics as a little Pac-Man sent to the gut to break down and “eat” bad bacteria while helping to break down and digest food, Nelson suggests. In addition to the proper functioning of the gastrointestinal system, the diverse and balanced assortment of these healthy bacteria appears to have a wide range of impacts on many aspects of health, from immunity to skin condition.
“Probiotics have been shown to eliminate intestinal infections, eliminate imbalances, have anti-inflammatory properties and promote a healthy immune system,” said Centr nutritionist Angie Asche, RD. Says.
