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| yeast infections, its efficacy has now been scientifically validated: a recent study showed that women who ate 8 ounces of yogurt a day had significantly fewer yeast infections than those who did not. Lactobacillus acidophilus have been shown to help prevent and treat gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections as well. |
| F.Y.I. |
| Yogurt is also a good source of potassium, which helps maintain normal heart function and blood pressure; riboflavin, which is essential for converting food to energy; and vitamin B 12, which works with folic acid to prevent anemia. |
| Immune System Strength |
| Yogurt's Lactobacillus acidophilus cultures may also help ward off other infections by stimulating body cells that fight bacteria. According to another study, people who ate two 8-ounce servings of live-culture-containing yogurt a day had higher blood levels of gamma-interferon, a substance that helps the body fight disease. The yogurt eaters also had 25 percent fewer colds and fewer symptoms of hay fever and allergy than nonyogurt eaters. |
| Yogurt also speeds recovery from diarrhea. Its beneficial cultures work to overcome the "bad" bacteria, such as E. coli, which is famous for causing diarrhea in children and travelers alike. Yogurt's antibacterial action restores microbial balance, and thus normal digestive activity. |
| Yogurt works the same way against ulcers. Yogurt's beneficial bacteria act like antibiotics in the digestive tract, doing battle with the harmful bacteria that cause ulcers, making it difficult for the germs to continue doing harm. Yogurt also contains lactose, a natural sugar that breaks down into lactic acid and helps restore your digestive system to normal. |
| Osteoporosis Prevention |
| Plain, low-fat yogurt is a great source of calcium; one cup contains about 40 percent of the RDA. Cal- |
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