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What Is Bifidobacterium Yogurt?

C.B. Fox
C.B. Fox

Bifidobacterium yogurt is yogurt that has been cultured with bacteria from the genus Bifidobacterium. The most commonly used Bifidobacterium in yogurts or other dairy products are Bifidobacterium animalis and Bifidobacterium bifidum. These bacteria are probiotic and are known for their positive effects on the human digestion system. A number of different types of harmless bacteria can be used to culture yogurt, and most yogurts are made using a mixture of different bacteria. bifidobacterium yogurt is common, though not as common as yogurts made with other types of live cultures.

Yogurt is made by adding live cultures of various bacteria to milk and allowing the milk to ferment. The live cultures include bacteria from a number of different genera, all of which are safe to consume. When added to milk, Bifidobacterium bacteria feed on lactose and excrete waste in the form of lactic acid, which makes the milk sour and firm in texture. The bacteria remain alive in the yogurt throughout the fermentation process and are often consumed along with the yogurt.

Man making bifidobacterium yogurt.
Man making bifidobacterium yogurt.

Non-dairy yogurts can also be made into bifidobacterium yogurt. Common non-dairy yogurt bases include soy and rice and coconut milks. Additives to these yogurts help them mimic the texture of dairy based yogurt while the addition of Bifidobacterium or other bacteria give these alternative yogurts the same health benefits that dairy yogurts with live cultures have.

Bifidobacterium yogurt.
Bifidobacterium yogurt.

Once the bifidobacterium yogurt is eaten, some of the live cultures in the yogurt remain in the digestive tract. This particular type of bacteria colonizes the walls of the large intestine, where it aids in the digestive process by helping to break down certain nutrients. It also helps prevent infestation by harmful bacteria by consuming most of the nutrients that could feed these types of bacteria. These helpful bacteria also help rid the intestines of oxygen and lower the potential hydrogen (pH) of the digestive tract, making it an inhospitable environment for other types of bacteria. A number of medical studies have confirmed that eating bifidobacterium yogurt can help protect a person from invasion by harmful bacteria.

Many studies have shown that eating bifidobacterium yogurt can protect a person from harmful bacteria.
Many studies have shown that eating bifidobacterium yogurt can protect a person from harmful bacteria.

Most of the bacteria in bifidobacterium yogurt do not remain in the digestive tract, as large amounts pass out of the body with the solid waste. Though most of these helpful bacteria do not remain in a person's body, their presence in the digestive tract it believed to help decrease the amount of time that it takes for food to pass through.

Discussion Comments

ddljohn

Will bifidobacterium yogurt help with yeast infections? Can I use this yogurt as a douche to treat my yeast infection?

fify

@fBoyle-- Homemade probiotic yogurt sounds like a great idea. That way, you know for sure that the yogurt has live cultures in it.

I heard that many of the so called "probiotic" yogurts in grocery stores are treated in a way that kills the live cultures after they have been added. That's why I only purchase probiotic yogurt that says "contains live cultures" on the label. But it is expensive to purchase on a regular basis.

I'm trying to eat yogurt with bifidobacterium because I just finished a long treatment with antibiotics. Antibiotics kill both good and bad bacteria in the intestines, so I need to replace the good ones.

Where do you get the bifidobacterium culture to add to your yogurt?

fBoyle

I used to have constipation, indigestion and bloating all the time before. Ever since I started eating bifidobacterium yogurt, my bowels have been doing much better. I'm not constipated and my bloating is less.

It's true that this bacteria doesn't remain in the colon for long though. If I don't eat it for a few days, I start having problems again. I've started making homemade yogurt with bifidobacterium culture in it so that I can eat it regularly. I have at least a cup daily and it's working great. I think I'm going to do this indefinitely.

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    • Man making bifidobacterium yogurt.
      By: areafoto
      Man making bifidobacterium yogurt.
    • Bifidobacterium yogurt.
      By: NilsZ
      Bifidobacterium yogurt.
    • Many studies have shown that eating bifidobacterium yogurt can protect a person from harmful bacteria.
      By: Anton Maltsev
      Many studies have shown that eating bifidobacterium yogurt can protect a person from harmful bacteria.
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      Bifidobacterium yogurt can be made using coconut, almond or soy milk as a starter.