Sweet Tooth Cravings Can Be Satisfied By A Bowl Of Yogurt – The New Superfood

Considered by experts as the “nectar of immortality”, the humble yogurt is full of nutritional benefits and can meet the requirements of a starved body in the morning. It is also a great replacement option for those with a sweet- tooth who otherwise would opt for ice- creams and other sugar loaded desserts. Believed to be of Turkish origin, yogurt is a rich source of Vitamin D, protein, calcium and other micro- nutrients. It is low in fat content and bacterially fermented food and hence a natural source of probiotics. Being an easily digestible milk product, it is an ideal breakfast option compared to milk, cheese or any other dairy product which are high in saturated fats. It is beneficial for lactose intolerant people if consumed in small quantities.

Celebrity chef Rakhee Vaswani says,” Just adding yogurt to a smoothie or eating a bowl of it with fruits will be a good way to start your day. It becomes an excellent choice because its quick and won’t leave people feeling hungry. With less fat content and with so many nutrients, a bowl or even two servings of yogurt in a day can help people maintain good health.” She adds “With the variations that are available today in the market, from gluten-free to sugar-free to fat-free, people have a plethora of choices. Yogurt dips are marvelous toppings and can easily substitute cheese in your daily dressings or sandwiches,”

“It’s true that most people reach out for something sweet and rich to uplift their mood. But doing this too often can lead to other health issues. That is where Menchie’s frozen yogurt comes in. It is flavorful, non-fat, packed with proteins and probiotics. Compared to regular ice cream, it is only 1/3 of the calories and it contains the probiotics which are necessary for good immunity and helps a sluggish digestion,” said franchise owner of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt-West India that opened its first outlet in Mumbai, Avinash Dolwani. Menchie’s offers over 100 flavors of frozen yogurt and 25 toppings, uses real yogurt with live and active cultures along with gluten-free, non-fat, low fat, no sugar and also dairy free sorbets for vegans.

Popular chef Ranveer Brar echoes similar views. He said, "Yogurt is a great super food because it has creaminess of cream with one third of the fat and the culture benefits of whey. Besides having great taste, it is also a great substitute for dessert." According to Brar, yogurt is a rich source of micro-nutrients, should be a definite addition to breakfast.

Adding beaten yogurt instead of cream to curries reduces the fat percentage and gives a unique taste. Hung yogurt is a low fat substitute to cream cheese. Also, marinating meat in yogurt is a good option. Greek yogurt is also a great substitute for sugars as the iodine content in this variation keeps the waistline in check hand helps people to grab a massive source of protein.

With a load of taste variants for yogurt in the market, the super food helps keep digestive system in shape and acts as a coolant. In India, according to Ayurveda it forms the base of the ‘panchamrita’ - honey, sugar, milk, yogurt, and clarified butter. Ayurveda believes that a bowl of freshly-set yogurt just before sunrise is actually warming in winters. Yogurt soups are another way of incorporating the food product in our meals.



Source-Medindia