Staying healthy is not easy in this modern era. It almost seems as if every day there is some new report or study that makes some claim as to the healthiness of the foods we eat. Weeding through the hype and pseudoscience can be a challenge, especially when we are bombarded by all sides of the food debate and each industry has their own agenda or idea as to what being healthy really means. As if that wasn’t bad enough, you have the individual health sections to look after: digestive health, heart health, lung health, bone health, dental health and more. However, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
All Part Of The Same Body
As much as the media and different industries would like us to believe, all these different health sections fall under one body. Your body works hard every day to maintain what is called, homeostasis. Without getting too complicated, essentially, homeostasis is the body’s way of attempting to regulate all the different variables so the internal conditions maintain smooth running. If one variable gets out of control, the body tries to compensate and adjust to maintain the normal operating conditions. How this effects your health is simple. What homeostasis means for you is that your body is one large interconnected system that all work together so you can keep living. It also means a little bit goes a long way and doesn’t have to large an adverse effect as long as you consume things in moderation.
What Does This Have To Do With Yogurt?
Yogurt is one of the foods that receive constant attention in the health market. Is it healthy? More healthy than ice cream? The answer is not all that complicated. While it is true that many yogurt products contain more sugar than ice cream, the probiotics and other digestive elements that exist in yogurt go a long way to helping your overall health. Yogurt helps stimulate your digestive system and depending on the product, replace digestive bacteria that is lost as we go along. Ice-cream has none of these other benefits. So while there may be a few extra grams of sugar in the yogurt, the digestive benefits outweigh a few extra grams. Don’t forget, sugar is also important for the body. It is the amount that we intake that becomes the problem. Adjusting your sugar intake to take advantage of consuming yogurt that has far reaching health benefits makes more sense than eating a bowl of ice cream.
Not all companies add extra sugar or engage in processes that reduces the health benefits of frozen yogurt in Australia. Some companies have under 10g, and it’s still healthy! You could also buy plain yogurt and add your own sweetness such as fruit. So the next time you’re craving something sweet, go to your local fro-you shop or make yourself a parfait at home. Yum!
*This article was contributed.
