For A Long Healthy Life: Intestine & Yogurt

​It has turned out that the strength of the immune system is directly related to the intestine.
 
To keep the immune system strong, it is important to keep the intestine young. To keep the intestine young, it is important to keep good bacteria more in the intestine than bad bacteria.
 
Yogurt contains a lot of good bacteria, especially Bifidobacteria. Bifidobacteria play a very important role in the intestine. Among good bacteria in the large intestine, 99.9 % are Bifidobacteria and 0.1 % are lactic acid bacteria.
 
According to a recent study in University of Chicago, Bifidobacteria are expected to be effective to suppress cancer. Bifidobacteria activate natural killer cells that attack cancer cells.
 
The number of good bacteria (Bifidobacteria) in the intestine decreases with age and becomes one hundredth at the age of 40s or 50s, compared to the childhood.
 
Q1. When is a good timing to eat yogurt to maximize the absorption of the nutrition?
(A) Before meals (B) After meals
 
A1. (B) After meals
Bifidobacteria easily die during the fasting state when there is a lot of stomach acid. On the other hand, after meals, stomach acid is neutralized by food and there is more possibility that Bifidobacteria reach the intestine. However, dead lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacteria become the feed of good bacteria, eating yogurt after meals doesn’t end up in the garbage.
 
Q2. Which can activate Bifidobacteria more? (A) Eat after freezing yogurt (B) Eat after warming yogurt
 
A2. (B) Eat after warming yogurt
Bifidobacteria increase at about 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) because that is close to the temperature of the intestine. Hot Yogurt can be made when yogurt is warmed up in the microwave (500 W) for 40 seconds.
 
Bifidobacteria in yogurt likes dietary fibers so if you eat yogurt with fruits that are rich in dietary fibers, Bifidobacteria can be more active.
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