Title: The Role of Bacteria in the Health Potential of Yogurt - microbewiki
Headings: The Role of Bacteria in the Health Potential of Yogurt
The Role of Bacteria in the Health Potential of Yogurt
Contents
Introduction
The Biochemistry Behind Yogurt
Yogurt Production
Benefits of Yogurt
Probiotics
Improving Yogurt
Current Problems
Improving functionality of Yogurt
Towards a "Superior" Yogurt
Conclusion
References

Content: However, the level of zinc was low regardless of whether yogurt was added to the diet or not, suggesting that yogurt protects against growth retardation not by increasing zinc but by some other mechanism. Additionally, a variant of traditional yogurt, soy yogurt, has been found to help prevent hepatic lipid accumulation in rats (Kitawaki et al., 2009). Specifically, the rats fed soy yogurt had lower liver weight and hepatic triglyceride content, and their plasma cholesterol levels were also lower compared to control rats that were fed a standard rat diet without soy yogurt. Furthermore, ingestion of soy yogurt down-regulated the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP-1) and other lipogenic enzymes, while upregulating β-oxidation-related genes, which produce enzymes that are involved in the catabolism of fatty acids cholesterol in the rat liver. In general, there is a consensus that yogurt has beneficial effects for gastrointestinal health, as shown in both animal and human studies. Some studies also suggest that yogurt not only helps maintain a healthy gut, but can also help with certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as lactose intolerance, constipation, diarrheal diseases, colon cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergies (Adolfsson, Meydani, & Russell, 2004). The benefit of yogurt seems to extend to the reproductive system as well. In diabetic women, it has also been suggested that yogurt consumption reduces the risk of vaginal yeast infection, caused by Candida, by regulating pH and suppressing Candida overgrowth (Chauncey et al., 1999).