Yakult and its benefits

07-Jan-2009

Tags: Yakult , Bacteria , Health , Diet , Yogurt

Yakult is a fermented milk drink made by fermenting skim milk powder, water and sugar with the beneficial live probiotic strain of good bacteria Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain. Probiotics are friendly bacteria or yeasts that have been used for centuries as natural ingredients in health-promoting foods, and recent scientific studies support the many health benefits of probiotics. Today, more and more people worldwide are turning towards probiotics for healthy living. The bacteria cultures are still imported from a mother strain in Japan regardless of production location.

Types of Yakult: There are two types of Yakult - Yakult Original and Yakult Light. Both contain Lactobacillus casei Shirota in equal amounts, but the Light version has less sugar. Yakult Original has a red lid. Yakult Light is the one in the blue. You can choose whichever you like.

Nutritional Facts:

• Yakult contains no colorings. The unique color is natural caramelisation resulting from the production process.
• There are just 48 calories in a bottle of Yakult Original. A bottle of Yakult Light contains just 27 calories.
• The reason we include sugar is that it provides essential ‘food' for the bacteria, keeping them alive during shelf life.
• Both Yakult Original and Yakult Light are virtually fat-free and equivalent to 0.5 Weight Watchers points.

Benefits:

• Ideally the digestive system should contain greater amounts of friendly, beneficial bacteria in order to outnumber those that are potentially harmful.

• Yakult helps keep the balance between the beneficial and potentially harmful bacteria living in the digestive system.

• Each 65 ml bottle contains approximately 6.5 billion bacteria, enough to help replenish the levels of good bacteria in the digestive system.

• It plays a vital role in protecting and maintaining the health of the whole body.

• Yakult keep the balance between what we eat and drink

• ltress can cause the gut to become upset. So take Yakult to get relief from daily stress and busy lifestyle

• A number of holiday factors like dehydration, inactivity and differences in eating habits can upset the gut flora. However building up your ratio of ‘good' bacteria in the gut, by drinking a bottle of Yakult every day for a fortnight before the holiday can protect your digestive system.

• Control the side effects from antibiotics

• The number of beneficial bacteria within the intestines tends to fall naturally as we get older. Our immune system also gets weaker. A probiotic will help top-up the beneficial bacteria in the gut, which in turn supports your body's natural defences.

• It helps to maintain a healthy balance of the intestinal flora, important for good digestion.

• Yakult can be taken by both children and adults. After 12 months, the child's intestinal flora is almost identical to that of adults. Therefore, the amount of beneficial bacteria in Yakult will help to re-establish a balance of intestinal flora in children and adults alike.

Storage: Yakult must be refrigerated. If Yakult is subjected to temperatures above 4°C, the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain become active and use the sugar to multiply and produce lactic acid. This acid causes Yakult to taste sour, which is not a true representation of the refreshing, fruity taste of Yakult. Yakult can be added to cereals, smoothies, milkshakes, cheesecakes or any other cold foods.

Difference between Yakult and yogurt?

Yakult is inexpensive when compared to the cost of soft drinks, juices, flavored milks, cappuccinos or alcoholic drinks. So try the drink and gift your body a healthy digestive system.

(Sources: yakult.com.au, yakult.co.uk, yakult.com.au, babynutritioncare.com)

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