Iaurt

Yogurt is a dairy product, which is made by blending fermented milk with various ingredients that provide flavor and color. Although accidentally invented thousands of years ago, yogurt has only recently gained popularity in the United States.

It is believed that yogurt originated in Mesopotamia thousands of years ago. Evidence has shown that these people had domesticated goats and sheep around 5000 B.C. The milk from these animals was stored in gourds, and in the warm climate it naturally formed a curd. This curd was an early form of yogurt. Eventually, a process for purposely producing yogurt was developed.

While yogurt has been around for many years, it is only recently (within the last 30-40 years) that it has become popular. This is due to many factors including the introduction of fruit and other flavorings into yogurt, the convenience of it as a ready-made break-fast food and the image of yogurt as a low fat healthy food.

Manufacturers have responded to the growth in the yogurt market by introducing many different types of yogurt including low fat and no-fat, creamy, drinking, bio-yogurt, organic, baby, and frozen. Traditional yogurt is thick and creamy. It is sold plain and in a wide assortment of flavors. These are typically fruit flavors such as strawberry or blue-berry however, newer, more unique flavors such as cream pie and chocolate have also been introduced. Cereals and nuts are some-times added to yogurts. Yogurt makers also sell products with a varying level of fat. Low fat yogurt, which contains between 0.5% and 4% fat, is currently the best selling. Diet no-fat yogurt contains no fat at all. It also contains artificial sweeteners that provide sweetness while still reducing calories. Creamy yogurt is extra thick, made with whole milk and added cream. Drinking yogurt is a thinner product, which has a lower solids level than typical yogurt. Bio-yogurt is made with a different type of fermentation culture and is said to aid digestion. Yogurt that is made with milk from specially fed cows is called organic yogurt. This type of yogurt is claimed to be more nutritious than other yogurts. Other types of yogurts include pasteurized stirred yogurt that has extended shelf life, baby yogurt made specifically for children, and frozen yogurt.

The yogurt itself has a generally aldehydic flavor, which is a result of the fermentation process. Since it is made from milk, yogurt is rich in nutrients. It contains protein and vitamins and is a rich source of calcium. In fact, a small container of yogurt contains as much calcium as a third of a pint of milk. In addition to these nutritional characteristics, yogurt is also thought to have additional health benefits. One of the suggested benefits of yogurt is that it acts as a digestive aid. In the body, it is thought that yogurt can encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. These organisms help to digest food more efficiently and protect against other, harmful organisms. Another health benefit of yogurt is for people that are lactose intolerant. These people have difficulty digesting milk products however, they typically can tolerate yogurt.

Helferich, W. and D. Westhoff. Yogurt: All About It, 1980.

Hui, Y.H., ed. Dairy Science and Technology Handbook. New York: Wiley VCH, 1992.

Robinson, R.K. "Snack Foods of Dairy Origin." In Snack Food. Edited by Gordon R. Booth. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1990

Robinson, R.K and A.Y. Tamime. "Recent developments in yoghurt manufacture." In Modern Dairy Technology. Edited by B.J.F. Hudson. London: Elsevier Applied Science Publishers, 1986.

Article reviewed by Sara Bondioli Last updated on: Jan 26, 2011

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