We all love yoghurt, but do you know what yoghurt actually is and why it’s so good for you?
Yoghurt is made by the bacterial fermentation of milk. This can range from dairy, soy or coconut milk. Basically, this means that bacteria, aka “yoghurt cultures,” turn the naturally occurring sugars present in milk into an alcohol. This process produces a substance called lactic acid, which then causes the protein within milk to curdle, producing yoghurt. This is also the reason why yoghurt has a naturally tangy flavour.
The live cultures that are used to make yoghurt, including Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt, are Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. These two probiotics have many health benefits and work in amazing ways to keep your body functioning at it’s best.
One of the primary health benefits of a diet including probiotics is improving gut and digestive function. Probiotics help balance your gut flora which is needed to prevent numerous diseases, is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and helping to reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and even depression! Gut flora also helps manufacture vitamins K and B and aids proper immune functioning.
So consuming yoghurt and these beneficial bacteria are essential for your overall health and wellbeing.
Here are my 5 easy recipes using Cocobella Yoghurt that contain the beneficial Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria that you can make at home, to ensure you getting all the benefits of the probiotics.
1. Healthy Sour Cream
Ingredients
½ cup Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt, Natural
1 tbs. apple cider vinegar
½ lime, juiced
½ tsp pepper
Method
Combine Cocobella Yoghurt, lime juice and vinegar in small bowl until smooth and creamy. Add pepper and stir. Enjoy!
2. Frozen Chocolate Breakfast Pops
Ingredients
200ml milk of choice
½ cup Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt
1 banana; peeled, sliced and frozen
1⁄4 cup rolled oats
2 tbs. cacao powder
2 tbs. nuts of choice
2 tsp. shredded coconut
Method
Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blitz until smooth. Pour mixture into ice-block moulds and freeze overnight. Enjoy!
3. Piña Colada-Inspired Sunrise Smoothie
Ingredients
3 slices of fresh pineapple
1/2 cup Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt, Natural
1 cup coconut milk
Sprig of fresh mint
Method
Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blitz until smooth. Pour into a glass.
Enjoy!
4. Layered Yoghurt Brekkie Cup
Ingredients
1/2 cup Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt, Vanilla
1 mango
1 punnet of blueberries
1 punnet of raspberries
¼ cup natural muesli
Method
In a cup, layer blueberries, raspberries and mango. Top with yoghurt then muesli. Enjoy!
5. Tangy Guacamole
Ingredients
2 ripe avocados
1/2 cup Cocobella Coconut Yoghurt, Natural
1/2 small red onion, diced
1/2 small chilli, chopped
1 lime, juiced
1/4 cup chopped coriander
Method
In a medium sized bowl, mash avocados and combine with yoghurt. Stir in red onion, chilli, lime and coriander. Enjoy!
