Probiotic yogurt helps boost immunity

The new crown epidemic has made more and more people aware of the importance of immunity, and "immunity is the best doctor" has become a consensus
.
How can you help boost your immunity through your daily diet?

What is immunity? The medical term is called immune function, which is the body's own defense mechanism
.
On the one hand, to identify and destroy foreign substances (viruses, bacteria, etc.
) that invade foreign countries; On the other hand, it is necessary to deal with cells
that are declining, degeneration, mutated and infected on their own.
It is the immune system that performs this function in the
human body.

The strength of human immunity, in addition to genetics, is also closely related to living habits, and diet is one of the important factors
.

A proper diet can provide the main nutrients needed to build the immune system, such as protein, vitamins, and minerals
.

Proteins and amino acids are the building substances of immune cells and immune molecules, and are closely related
to the occurrence, development and function of the immune system.
The types of food proteins and the composition of essential amino acids directly affect cellular immunity and humoral immunity
.

Vitamins are the new force of the construction of the human immune system, which can help maintain the integrity of the structure and function of immune cells, promote the production of immune molecules, and thus enhance the
body's immunity.

Minerals also play a very important role in the normal functioning of the human immune system, and trace elements in the body in the form of metalloproteins and coenzymes, which are indispensable
in cell metabolism and division and reproduction.
At the same time, trace elements also play an important role
in the immune response.
Studies have found that calcium deficiency is not only related to bone health, but also that a decrease in calcium intake can reduce the body's immune regulation level and deteriorate
metabolic function.

In addition, as the largest immune organ in the human body, more than 70% of immune cells are distributed in the intestine, and intestinal flora disorders will also lead to a decline
in immunity.
Probiotics can increase the activity of phagocytes and natural killer cells, and can also interact directly with dendritic cells to stimulate the immune system
.
Probiotics can also metabolize beneficial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids in the intestines, which also have the effect of activating the
immune system.
Prebiotics are probiotic foods that promote the reproduction of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and inhibit the growth
of harmful bacteria.

Probiotic yogurt is an excellent food
that can supplement the nutrients needed for immunity in many ways.

A good source of high-quality protein: During the fermentation process, some of the proteins in raw milk are broken down into small molecules of peptides and amino acids, and the ratio of these amino acids is close to the ratio of human protein amino acids, which is easier to be digested and absorbed
.

Good source of calcium: Yogurt retains the calcium content of raw milk, while producing lactic acid during fermentation, which promotes the absorption
of various minerals such as calcium.

Data from the U.
S.
Nutrition and Health Survey (NUJS) suggests that increased consumption of dairy products can help compensate for deficiencies
in vitamins and trace elements.

Yogurt contains hundreds of millions of probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium lactis BB-12, Bifidobacterium lactis Probio-M8, etc.
, and some products also add prebiotics such as fructooligosaccharides to help inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and regulate intestinal flora
.

When choosing probiotic yogurt, consumers need to pay attention to the following points: probiotics need to be clear strains, even if they are all Bifidobacterium lactis, the efficacy of different strains varies greatly; A safety assessment is required; Must be low-temperature live yogurt; It needs to be verified by scientific efficacy such as clinical function experiments
.

(Wang Meng)

China Food News(Version 06, December 22, 2022)

(Responsible editor: Zhu Meiqiao)