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Try Yogurt for Bowel Problems

http://blog.drdavidwilliams.com/blog/dr-david-williams/0/0/try-yogurt-for-bowel-problems

Digestive problems are the second most common cause of hospitalizations. (Pregnancy is #1 with women and coronary problems are #1 with men.) Thousands of diseases can be linked directly to a poor digestive system. And one of the biggest culprits is bowel problems, specifically a bacteria imbalance in the bowels.

Cultured foods can help intestinal bacteria growth. Generally, cultured foods are made from milk products. Since the bacteria is necessary for their production requires milk sugar (lactose), the end product will contain less sugar and therefore be less sweet. This holds true for all "soured" milk products like yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, etc.

Yogurt has been used for centuries to cure bowel problems and diarrhea. The oldest people in the world, in the mountains of Russia, reportedly use plenty of yogurt and clabbered milk as their protein source. A study at a New York hospital confirmed that between 1/3 and 1/2 cup of ordinary yogurt stopped severe infant diarrhea twice as fast as the standard anti-diarrhea drug Neomycin Kaopectate. (Clin.Ped.63;1(7):407-411.) It works so effectively as a diarrhea treatment, it is routinely used for that purpose in hospitals throughout Russia, Japan and Italy.

Yogurt can do so much more than just correct bowel problems. At least seven natural antibiotics have been isolated from yogurt and fermented milk products. One called acidolin has been shown to be as effective, if not more so, as many prescription antibiotics. (J. of Antibiotics 74;27(8):631-636.) Eating yogurt may also decrease the risk of cancer. One French study discovered that among women who ate dairy products, those who ate the greatest amounts of yogurt had the lowest rate of breast cancer. (J.Nat.Cancer Inst. 86;77(3):633-636.)

Like just about everything else these days, the type of yogurt you eat makes a difference. Dont be fooled by the recent clever marketing of many yogurt products. The label of any yogurt you buy should say it has "active cultures." Some companies pasteurize the product after it’s been made, and this kills off the remaining beneficial bacteria making it useless. If you can find products made from L.acidophilus bacteria cultures, they will have the greatest benefits.

Also, avoid yogurts with fruit, as they are loaded with sugar. Add your own fruit instead. I find that bananas give yogurt a sweet taste and counteract the sourness. For a more consistent sweetness, try blending the banana into the yogurt in the blender.