Yogurt

Yogurt is made from milk and bacteria.

How milk becomes yogurt

Bacteria are added to warm milk. The bacteria eat the sugar in the milk, called lactose, and give off an acid called lactic acid. The acid makes the milk proteins gently clump together, and that clumping is what thickens the milk.

The bacteria multiply as they eat the lactose. Over several hours in warm milk, more bacteria make more acid and the milk keeps thickening. When the yogurt is ready, it is cooled. Cooling slows the bacteria, so they multiply and make acid much more slowly.

How yogurt is different from cheese

Cheese starts the same way, with milk and bacteria. Then cheesemakers add rennet, an enzyme that makes the proteins clump tightly, and the milk separates into solid curds and liquid whey.

Yogurt is made without rennet. The clumping stays gentle, so the milk never fully separates. Everything stays together as one soft, thick food.

The thin liquid that sometimes sits on top of yogurt is whey. Whey can be stirred back in.

Greek yogurt is yogurt that has been strained to remove much of the whey. Removing the whey makes Greek yogurt thicker. A container of Greek yogurt holds more protein than the same size container of regular yogurt, often close to twice as much.

The bacteria are alive

The bacteria in yogurt are still alive when you eat it. Cold slows the bacteria down but does not kill them. Heat does. Some yogurt is heated after it is made, which kills the bacteria. Yogurt with living bacteria usually says "live and active cultures" on the label.

What yogurt provides your body

Yogurt provides your body protein, calcium, and vitamin B12.

Because the bacteria eat some of the lactose while making yogurt, yogurt has less lactose than milk. This is why some people who have trouble digesting milk can eat yogurt.

I buy yogurt with no added sugar. I like to eat yogurt with fruit, in my smoothies, and on top of other foods.

You are welcome to eat something alive.

Stacy 🌺

Information in this post comes from my learning and research.

https://youtube.com/shorts/ba1TLxn1jpw

I share my experiences and my perspective. Eating and healing look different for everyone. If you are struggling with food or your relationship with your body, please find support. You don’t have to do this alone.