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The Health Benefits of Yogurt For Ramadan and `Eid
By
Hwaa Irfan
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Yogurt
is a popular food for Ramadan as well as `Eid. However, much controversy
has surrounded the consumption of cow's milk and milk products for some
time.
Fortunately, though, this controversy only pertains to commercially
produced cow milk and milk products. As one of the oldest foods known to
man, yogurt is a product of pure milk. "…We give you to drink of
what is in their bellies ... pure milk, easy and agreeable to swallow
for those who drink" (Surat ul Nahl, 16:66). It is said that
Rasulullah, the Prophet Mohammad (saw), fed his followers with yogurt
when they became ill (Eltean, p.2.). Now yogurt has become one of the
essential foods used to break the Ramadan fast and is also a traditional
addition to the "First Day of `Eid" breakfast.
For centuries, yogurt has been popular for traditional reasons. But
recently, science is finding out that this tradition has many health
benefits as well. The main benefits of yogurt are in the digestive
tract, where the friendly bacteria found in live yogurt can aid in
digestion as well as help to clean the intestines and digestive tract.
In the Balkans, they testify as to the medicinal effects of yogurt,
believing it to have therapeutic qualities as well as providing a strong
constitution (Roden, p.21). During the early 1900's, Dr. Ilya
Metchnikoff proposed the widespread use of acidified (fermented) milk,
similar to yogurt, and proposed that the beneficial bacteria be used in
producing fermented milk. She stated that the bacteria, still present in
the yogurt, upon entering the intestinal tract would prevent other
bacteria in the intestines from forming harmful toxins. Further
investigation revealed that undigested and unabsorbed carbohydrates in
the small intestines produced three effects:
a)
Carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane gas as well as alcohol.
b) Microbial by-products like lactic acid.
c) Energy for microbial growth which leads to damage of the small
intestines resulting in carbohydrate malabsorption, bacterial
overgrowth, water drawn into the intestines increased metabolic
by-products and chronic diarrhea (Gotschall, p.15 -18).
One
of the first digestive enzymes to suffer damage is lactase. It has been
found that most African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and Southern
Europeans lack the ability to digest lactose, a milk sugar (Rangwani,
p.1). Deficiencies in the enzyme lactase includes celiac disease,
malnutrition, cholera, gastroenteritis, infant diarrhea, irritable
colon, soy protein and cows milk intolerance, parasitic infection of the
intestines, cystic fibrosis, Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.
Former Chairman of Pediatrics at John Hopkins University Frank Osko
blames a multitude of other health problems on hormone-riddled
commercial milk containing lactase (Rangwani, p.1).
Unfortunately, lactase can be found in most milk products such as liquid
milk, dried milk, commercial yogurt, fermented homemade yogurt,
processed cheese, cream cheese, ice cream, some sour creams, whey and
even in some vitamins (Gotschall, p.25). Lactase, however, is not
present in fully fermented live yogurt. The standards set by the Food
and Agricultural Organization for yogurt state that it must have
undergone lactic acid fermentation through the action of the friendly
bacterias lactobacillus bulgaris, and streptococcus thermophilus, which
comes from milk.
The real yogurt culture, lactobacillus and streptococcus, should ferment
the real 'live' yogurt, which must be alive at the time of consumption
(Eltean, p.1). Researchers at the Pediatric and Adolescent
Gastroenterology of the Women's and Children Hospital in Adelaide,
Australia have found that yogurts and other fermented drinks contain
more than one type of bacteria from the lactobacillus family, which
promote digestion. This is very important in the breaking of a fast
-either during Ramadan or during any breakfast throughout the year.
Additionally, researchers have found that fermented milk plays a large
role in the prevention and management of serious gastrointestinal
conditions including inflammatory bowel disease. A urine test was used
to check the permeability of the intestines and a breath test to measure
the metabolic activity of bacteria in the intestines. Healthy adults
were given yogurt for two days using the urine test. They found that the
intestines had become less permeable. Diarrhea is a result of excess
permeability (Reuters p.1, 2).
Microbiologists at the University of Ontario found that a strain of
lactobacillus not identical to that in live yogurt and checked the
spread of the dangerous bacterium, staphylococcus aureus. The laboratory
research involved rats. All were given staphylococcus aureus through
implantation under the skin. Half were given lactobacillus. Those that
didn't receive lactobacillus developed sores filled with pus whilst
those that did had clean healthy wounds. It is still unknown as to why
this occurs, but it has shown that friendly bacteria in yogurt can slow
down staphylococcus instead of destroying it with antibiotics, which
causes the strain to become resistant to treatment like those found in
British general hospitals. This would benefit patients with weakened
immune systems due to illness or surgery whereby antibiotic treatment
would endanger their lives (BBC, 1,2).
These friendly bacteria become an intrinsic part of real live yogurt,
when homemade and fermented for no less than 24 hours. The bacteria
contain a non-complex single-sugar (monosaccharides), which requires no
further splitting to be transported from the intestines to the
bloodstream (Gotschall, p.3, 27, 44). As a custom, many Middle Eastern
countries have enjoyed homemade live yogurt as a condiment, often adding
salt, mint and garlic. It is enjoyed with a variety of vegetables and
meat. Naturally sweet yogurt (curd) is more nutritious than ghee or
milk, so the wisest decision if one has a limited choice of alternatives
to commercially produced yogurts is to cherish the benefits of making
yogurt at home.
Sources:
- BBC. "Yogurt
Bacteria 'Fights' Superbugs." Health: BBC. 12/08/01.
- Eltean.com. "Yogurt."
Eltean.com. 12/06/01.
- Gottschall, Elaine. "Breaking the Vicious Cycle." Canada:
Kirkton Press. 1998.
- Rangwani, Shanti. "White
Poison: The Horrors of Milk." AlterNet.org. 12/08/01.
- Reuters. "Yogurt, Fermented Drinks Good for Bowel Disease."
Oxygen.com. 10/04/01.
- Roden, Claudia. "Middle Eastern Food." Britain: Penguin Books.
1985.
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