All about yogurt

Q:What do you get if you mix 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt in a warm cup of milk and leave in room temperature for 6-8 hours?

A: You get more yogurt! Yay!

Trust me, that is one hell of a good news to all yogurt lovers as there is never enough yogurt for the whole family. It's so yummy, versatile and power pack with good ol' prebiotics in it. Think about frozen strawberry yogurt, yogurt parfait, mango lassi, banana smoothie , yogurt cheese and healthy chicken yogurt curry. Oh yesssss! Seriously, you just cannot say no to yogurt and not make it part of your diet. If you disagree, then you are losing out on the awesome benefits that yogurt can offer you.

Let's get down to the basics first. Yogurt is a result of the bacterial fermentation process in dairy products such as milk or soy. Those bacterias are popularly known as yogurt cultures and they are the good guys (say hello to our famous prebiotics -- Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus)! They are responsible for producing lactic acid which acts on milk protein thus resulting to the curdling or tart texture and tangy flavor of the yogurt.

Our digestive track needs a decent amount of good bacterias. It helps keep your gut happy and healthy. It may even reduce the your risk of colorectal cancer. Check out some of the other amazing benefits of yogurt:-

1. Yogurt Boosts Immune Response & help you live longer
2. Yogurt Lowers LDL, Raises HDL Cholesterol
3. Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure
4. Discourage Vaginal Infections
5. Lower Body Fat Linked to Consumption of Calcium-Rich Foods
6. Yogurt, Specifically, Significantly Increases Fat Loss & help you feel fuller
7. Calcium-rich Dairy Foods Boost the Body's Fat Burning After a Meal
8. Boost the Body's Ability to Build Bone
9. Dairy Foods Better than Calcium Supplements for Growing Girls' Bones
10. Help Prevent and Heal Arthritis
11. Protection against Ulcers
12. For Fresh Breath and a Healthy Mouth, Eat Yogurt

For more details, please click http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt and http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=124

Oh, did I mention versatile? Yogurt is effective at cleansing and disinfecting pores, preventing acne, moisturizing skin and revitalizing its texture. You can mix it with honey and it will soften and nourish the skin.

You can also try to marinate meat overnight with yogurt as it works as a perfect tenderizer due to its mild acidity. You can read more about it here.

Coconut milk is fattening and bad. Try yogurt as a substitute. It's creamy and equally delicious!

You can strain it and make greek yogurt too. Yummy.

Have fun experimenting with yogurt. Here are some of the wonderful yogurt pictures to inspire you to eat and make more yogurt!

Yogurt with honey, raspberries and blueberries
Source & for more info at: http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking-101/essential-ingredients/yogurt-nutrition-00412000067780/

Greek yogurt parfait
Source & for more info: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/greek-yogurt-parfaits-10000001995695/

Raspberry yogurt popsicles
Source & for more info: http://honestcooking.com/2011/08/04/summer-treat-raspberry-yogurt-popsicles/

Chicken Curry Yogurt Kalia
Source & for more info: http://www.mijorecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/chicken-curry-yogurt-kalia.jpg