Yogurt is the most popular fermented milk product in the United States. While the calcium and antioxidant-packed dairy treat is eaten for breakfast, snack time, and used in creamy drinks (like smoothies), yogurt also has a place in the world of self-healing. Getting to know yogurt home remedies can help maintain your health and treat common conditions.
How is Yogurt Made?
When specific bacteria are added to milk, the result is yogurt. A controlled environment that allows the ingredients to ferment is required in order to complete the process. Most of the yogurt made in the United States is comprised of cow’s milk, but yogurt can be made with the milk of other animals, such as goats, sheep and even camels. Bacterial fermentation causes the yogurt to have a recognizably tangy flavor. It is thicker than regular milk and is often chunky.
A dairy product is officially called yogurt when it contains two types of bacteria – Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Other species of bacteria are also added to other kinds of yogurt. They may include Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei [1]. Yogurts are either pasteurized or unpasteurized (contains live bacteria). Pasteurized yogurts do not need to be stored in a refrigerator and have a longer shelf life. However, they lack many of the health benefits associated with live yogurt.
Home Remedies using Yogurt
In a diet, yogurt provides the body with animal protein, calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12 (maintains red blood cells), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, iodine, zinc, and magnesium. The thicker Greek yogurt has up to 20 grams of protein per container while traditional yogurt contains as few as five grams. With unpasteurized yogurt, the body receives a healthy dose of what is known as ‘good’ live bacteria (or yogurt with ‘probiotics’), which helps balance out the digestive tract [2].
The following yogurt home remedies will also show you other ways to use this dairy product to your full advantage:
a) Soothe Sunburn:
To ease the sting of sunburned skin, combine ¼ cup of full-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of oatmeal. Vigorously mix the ingredients to create a remedy for the face. Apply the mixture to affected skin, and leave on for at least 10 minutes. Use warm water to rinse off the mask.
b) Freshen Your Breath:
The ‘good’ bacteria found in a cup of yogurt are known to effectively attack the bacteria that causes bad odor in your mouth. To take advantage of this remedy, you must choose plain yogurt that does not contain sugar.
c) Aid Pet Gastro-Intestinal Systems:
Adding a few spoonfuls of yogurt to the regular food of your cats and dogs once a day can help the health of their GI systems [3]. Giving your pets a small amount of yogurt on a daily basis can help prevent gas and diarrhea. Use two teaspoons for animals weighing up to 14 pounds. Add one tablespoon for dogs weighing 15 to 34 pounds. Add two tablespoons for larger dogs weighing 35 to 84 pounds. Dogs larger than 85 pounds will benefit from the addition of three tablespoons of yogurt added to their food.
d) Flatter Abs:
Research has proved that eating yogurt has an effect on your waist and pants size. According to studies conducted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, participants eating 18 ounces of yogurt per day lost more weight and chiseled their belly fat more than dieters that skipped the snack.
e) Brighten Your Skin:
When your skin is looking dull, you can use yogurt to brighten up your complexion when combined with a variety of juices. In a small bowl, add ½ cup of plain yogurt (no sugar added) and one teaspoon each of lime juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice and orange juice. Freshly squeezed juices will work best for this remedy. Mix the ingredients well with a spoon, and then apply to the face for 10 minutes. Rinse off the remedy using lukewarm tap water followed by a cotton ball soaked in mineral water. Splash two tablespoons of milk on the face, and then rinse with tap water.
f) Immune System Boost:
Yogurt contains probiotics known as “live and active cultures,” which can enhance the function of your digestive tract, as well as strengthen the immune system.
g) Skin Tightener:
The lactic acid found in yogurt can be used to tighten the skin when used as a facial home remedy. Lactic acid can also soothe, soften, and rejuvenate the skin.
h) Exfoliate the Skin:
To make a rejuvenating skin treatment at home, mix a couple tablespoons of plain yogurt with one teaspoon of ground orange peels that exfoliates the skin with a healthy dose of vitamin C [4].
i) Recover Faster from Workouts:
Eating a cup of yogurt on a daily basis can help your body recover faster after a workout. Greek yogurt is especially beneficial because it is high in protein. The best time to consume yogurt is within 60 minutes after exercise. This is the time where protein delivers necessary amino acids that can help repair your muscles. The carbohydrates found in the snack helps to energize your muscles.
j) Cleanse the Skin:
Apply two tablespoons of plain yogurt to cleanse your skin with the antifungal and antibacterial properties that it contains. Use a cotton ball to spread on the yogurt, and leave on for 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water, and then follow up with an application of a moisturizing lotion or cream.
k) Rejuvenate the Skin:
To create a rejuvenating facial mask, mix together one teaspoon of plain yogurt, the juice from ¼ slice of orange, one teaspoon of aloe, and a bit of orange pulp [5]. Apply the remedy to your face and leave on for at least five minutes before rinsing off.
l) Prevent High Blood Pressure:
Yogurt provides the body with beneficial components for every eight ounces that you eat, which can help flush out excess sodium from your system. Consuming too much salt can lead to hypertension, kidney disease, and heart disease.
m) Substitute for Buttermilk :
If a recipe calls for buttermilk and you don’t have any, yogurt is considered a suitable substitute. Simply use an equal amount of plain yogurt thinned with milk as an alternative. Use enough milk to make the yogurt easy to pour.[6]
n) Prevent Colds:
Consuming at least four ounces of yogurt can lower your chances of developing a cold in the coming months. Components in the yogurt have the ability to strengthen the body’s ability to fight illness and infection.
o) Protect Your Gums:
Eating low-fat, light and fruity flavors of yogurt have been proven to protect the gums – with the help of lactic acid found in the popular dairy product. Studies have shown that people lower their risk for suffering severe periodontal disease over people that overlook the benefits of yogurt.
p) Fight Dandruff:
The active cultures in yogurt makes it a good remedy for conditioning the hair and fighting embarrassing dandruff.
q) Moisturize the Skin:
Some people have added a bit of honey to a small amount of plain yogurt to create an effective moisturizer for the skin.
Resources
[1] http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/yogurt-lactobacillus.shtml
[2] http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt
[3] Who Knew? Almanac by Bruce Lubin & Jeanne Bossolina-Lubin; pg. 552.
[4] Babushka’s Beauty Secrets by Raisa Ruder; pg. 160.
[5] Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest; pg. 386.
[6] Five Minute Fixes by Reader’s Digest; pg. 175-176.