Traditional yogurts are an excellent source of protein, calcium and phosphorus. The “live active cultures” in yogurt are a mixture of species used as fermentation agents to make yogurt. The culture count in the final yogurt may not contain the same culture count as it did in the beginning. Some of the living species may have died off during the fermentation process. Traditional yogurts still provide nutritional value and some digestive health benefits.
Probiotics are not the same as “live active cultures”. The universal definition for probiotics is “living microorganisms that when consumed in sufficient numbers will provide a health benefit beyond its basic nutrition." Probiotic yogurts are therapeutic yogurts.
Traditional Yogurts
You will commonly see L. acidophilus, L. bulgaricus, L.casei, L. rhamnosus, S.thermophilus and B. bifidum as live active cultures on traditional yogurts. These species are from the genus Lactobacillus abbreviated as L.; Bifidobacterium abbreviated as B. and Streptococcus abbreviated as S. Traditional yogurts contain a mixture of these living species. The amount of species can vary in the final product because some of the living cultures die off during the fermentation process. Yogurts labeled as “live active cultures” must have culture counts greater than or equal to 1000,000,000 organisms per gram of finished yogurt and must remain active until the end of its shelf life according to the National Yogurt Association.
Therapeutic Yogurts
Therapeutic yogurts contain a mixture of species and a strain. The identification of a particular strain on a probiotic food means that specific strain has been tested for potential health benefits. The guidelines for probiotics by Mary Ellen Sanders, PhD, published in the journal “Functional Food Reviews” states probiotic food labels must contain the name of the “genus, species and strain designation of the probiotic strain in that product.” The label should also contain the number of live organisms as colony forming units, or CFU’s in each serving or dose and the expiration date. The suggested amount or dose and a legitimate health claim for that designated strain backed by scientific research can be listed on the product. Probiotics contain culture counts ranging from 50 million to more than 1 trillion colony-forming units per day.
Activia
Activia is a probiotic yogurt. The information on Activia yogurt says it contains L. bulgaricus, S. thermophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis DN 173-010. The Bifidobacterium lactis DN 173-010 is the probiotic species and DN 173-010 is the designated probiotic strain. Activia’s instructions say to consume daily for two weeks as part of a balanced diet to “help regulate your digestive system.” No CFU’s are listed on the label. There is an expiration date.
Activia’s probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium lactis DN- 173-010, has been published in the journals of “Clinical Infectious Diseases”, and the “American Family Physicians.” It is documented as a therapeutic yogurt to prevent or treat acute diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome and contains about 5 to 10 billion colony forming units of Bifidobacterium lactis DN- 173-010 per 4 oz. container. Bifidobacterium lactis DN- 173-010 is also registered on US Probiotics.org as a probiotic strain sold commercially as Activia yogurt.
Safety
Probiotics may cause harmful side effects in people with certain diseases, severe illnesses, weak immune systems, with short bowels or given to newborns. Talk to your doctor before using any probiotic foods or probiotic supplements.
Natural Foods
You will find Activia and other specialty probiotic yogurts at the Sacramento Natural Foods, Sherri Sunshine Nutrition in Lodi and other natural health food stores.
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