What are active yoghurt cultures?

Active yoghurt cultures are bacteria that are added to milk to initiate a fermentation process that creates yogurt. They are assumed that they help with digestion in general and especially lactose intolerance. There was also a claim that active yoghurt cultures could reduce cholesterol, increase immunity to infection and work as anticarcinogens.

milk used to produce yoghurt is usually first pasteurized to remove harmful bacteria. Then healthy bacteria mix with yogurt. These organisms ferment milk, turn sugars into lactic acid and change proteins in milk to form a creamy, gelatin texture.

bacteria that create active yoghurt cultures are usually Streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus bulgaricus . There may also be several other types of safe active bacteria in yoghurt. bifidobacterium bifidus is another type of bacteria added to yoghurt. May it further help for people with intoleranci lactose. The exact mixture of bacteria varies depending on the product.

Some types of yogurt are heat pasteurized to extend the life. Because it kills bacteria that have been used to produce yoghurt, these products do not have active yoghurt cultures. Other yoghurts may have active cultures, but too small in numbers to have a significant effect. Products covered with yoghurt, such as pretzels and raisins, and yoghurt products such as ingredients such as salad bandages, do not have active yoghurt cultures.

In the United States, it is one of the simple ways to find out whether the yogurt brand has active cultures, is to check the National Yogurt Association (NYA) seal. Given that the seal application is voluntary, other brands without it can have live culture. The only big difference is that the presence of cultures is probably not proven by an objective party.

Certified Yogurt has at least 100 million active cultures in each gram. Frozen yogurt needs 10 million cultures per gram. The seals are granted when the company creates a product provided by NYA laboratory analysis that verifies the number of cultures per gram yogurt

yoghurt products with active cultures come in a wide range of varieties. For consciously diet there are low calorie, low fat and not fat versions. There are also dessert yoghurts made in the texture of creams or with flavors such as chocolate. Drinking yogurt can also have active cultures.