The reason for this is that yogurt is made from milk, and milk naturally contains sugars. You cannot get rid of these sugars and still have milk, nor would it be a good idea to process food like that.

The only way to truly know exactly what is in your yogurt is to make your own, and then you can decide whether to use an artificial sweetener or sugar.  However, we don’t recommend using artificial sweeteners, because the chemicals in them can cause a number of side effects and adverse health reactions, which makes it hard to enjoy any of the advantages and health benefits of fresh homemade yogurt. Instead of these artificial sweeteners, it is better to use raw and organic cane sugar, or another natural sweetener that the body absorbs and uses for energy better, such as Agave Nectar or Pure Maple Syrup. We love maple syrup especially, it adds a unique flavor you usually won’t find in most commercially prepared store brand yogurts. Be sure however that it is pure maple syrup – and not a maple flavored syrup. The real thing may be more expensive, but artificially flavored maple syrups are usually nothing but high fructose corn syrup!

Many people are also worried about the fat content in yogurt, and worrying about whether they should use a lower fat content milk, such as skim milk, 1% or 2%. This is something else we advise against, which shocks a lot of people. For decades we’ve been told that “fat is bad for you” but it is really a matter of what type of fat. The fat in milk is a medium chain fat, which means it is easily digested (one of the easiest fats to digest in fact!) and rather than being stored by your body is actually converted into energy quite quickly. When you eat homemade yogurt made from raw whole organic milk, it is actually much better for you than the processed types at the grocery store which rely on thickening agents such as gelatin or other chemicals. The more natural foods you eat, the better you will feel and the more health benefits you will see!

So, while there is no such thing as true sugar free yogurt, there is no need to worry. If you want to enjoy the delicious taste, as well as the many different health benefits, all you need to do is learn how to make your own! And, with an electronic yogurt maker, making your own is very easy to do!

Yogurt is made by combining live active bacteria cultures with milk. It is these live bacteria cultures that make yogurt have so many of it’s health benefits. Not all yogurt has these live cultures in them, but the ones who do are the type that will give you benefit from eating it.

What Are Probiotics?

When we think of bacteria, we often think of it being bad, such as in the case of most bacterial infections. “Yuck! Germs!” You might think. But there are actually very good bacteria that can help us resist infections from these bad bacteria as well as yeast. They can work to breakdown other foods in our stomach better which can help with aiding in digestion.

Our bodies naturally contain good bacteria. The good bacteria helps ward off the bad bacteria and it also helps predominately with digestion, as it helps break down food so it can be processed and eliminated.

Probiotics are these good bacteria that are often found in dietary supplements and foods such as yogurt. You can get them often in capsule form or you can also get them in other methods such as eating probiotic foods.

Because yogurt is a cultured, or fermented, milk product, it is made by adding live bacteria to the milk. Common ones you will see include Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These are the “good guys” and when you buy yogurt or yogurt starters in the store you’ll want to make sure that it contains live and active cultures of these. Not all yogurts have live cultures, as some of them are heated to the point where the bacteria cannot withstand the heat.

It is not a new process to add microorganisms to a food and have a result from it. For example, most beers are made by the fermentation of yeast, another live substance.

Why Do You Need Probiotics?

There are many different people who in different circumstances can benefit from eating probiotics. For example, someone who has had a bacterial infection that required antibiotics would benefit from eating pro-biotic foods. Antibacterial ointments and antibiotic medicines work in killing not only the bad type that cause infection, but also the good ones. If you are taking antibiotic medication for any extended period of time, your pharmacist or doctor may advise you to eat yogurt in order to help restore the natural balance in your body.

Others may benefit from taking it if they have common digestive problems, as an imbalance of good bacteria can cause quite a lot of problems. There are many products in the stores marketed specifically for this.

What Kind of Yogurt Should I Eat?
There are a lot of yogurt companies that market themselves specifically as being “ProBiotic”. These types of yogurt claim to have specially researched and trademarked bacteria strains. However, it is unknown if these actually do have more health benefits than the other types or not, since no conclusive studies have been performed that I am aware of to date.

If you are planning on buying yogurt from the store, you’re going to want to read the labels carefully. Most companies and manufacturers now put exactly what types of cultures they use to make their product, though some might still not put it on the label as to the exact strains. If you do not see the words “contains live and active cultures” on the container or label, it’s a good chance that it doesn’t have any benefits to eating it at all. This is because certain manufacturers will heat the product up to extreme temperatures in order to pasteurize it – unfortunately this also kills the cultures found in the food.

This is one more great reason why you should make your own yogurt. When you are making it you have complete control of the ingredients you use, as well as what strains you choose to make it with. You can start with some commercially available prepared yogurt to start off as a base, or you can use a starter kit instead. Making it yourself can help you get the exact type you want to use.

It is truly fascinating to learn about how probiotics may have substantial medical impact as they continue to develop and research its uses and effects. Knowing that you can have these benefits from a naturally occurring food you eat is promising for those who continue to seek more natural remedies and alternative medical treatments.