What is Better for Your Health: Buttermilk or Yogurt? Learn 5 Distinct Differences!

What is Better for Your Health

Buttermilk or Yogurt?

Learn 5 about Distinct Differences Regarding Health Benefits 

A Question I am often asked – What is Better for your Health: Buttermilk or Yogurt? In this article I will share with you the difference and what the health benefits are for you.

Nutrition’s Vital Role in your Overall Health is

“All About Balance”

Nutrition plays a vital role to your overall health, and in gaining a level of optimal health. It is the very foundation for prevention of disease and premature deterioration of your body. It can at times be quite confusing. However, if we go back to basics looking at what your body is able to metabolize efficiently, this is an important fact when it comes to food not creating or causing health problems for you. In my eBook – Eating to Live, I share with you the foods to eat and how they benefit your health and wellbeing.

Optimal health is built by the foods you eat, the thoughts you think and the positive changes that you put into place. To maintain efficient metabolism, it is important that the bulk of your diet be as minimally processed as possible. Packaged, highly processed food is a major cause of food allergies due to the chemically derived additives that are used in the manufacturing process. 

Always to remember Fresh is Best. Keep your eating simple not a myriad of foods at the same time or overconsumption. Only eat when you are hungry and eat slowly with small mouthfuls.

Transform your Health & Transform your Life

with Positive Changes

5 Distinct Differences with Buttermilk & Yogurt

Regarding Benefits to your Health

Compared to regular milk, buttermilk has a tart-like taste compared to regular milk. The reason for this being due to the presence of acids within the milk. This is prominent within cultured buttermilk, as the appearance is thicker, due to the curdling process that is done by the processing of the milk protein casein.  Casein being the main underlying cause of allergies with dairy.

1. Yogurt when made from dairy is primarily a blend of fermented milk. Initially the milk is heated to about 80 degrees C to eliminate any unwanted bacteria. The temperature is then reduced to about 45 degrees C for the fermentation process. It is during this process that good, healthy bacteria is added. This process taking anywhere between 4 to 7 hours.
2. As for Nutritional Value – Buttermilk and Yogurt are distinctively different in these areas.  Using a 100 g serving, as an example buttermilk has less energy (only about 169 kJ) compared to yogurt’s (257 kJ). Yogurt also has a higher fat and protein content to that compared to buttermilk.
3. The protein of yogurt being 3.3 g and 3.5 g – compared to that of buttermilk being 0.9 g and 3.3 g. The carbohydrate value is almost identical between the two.  Buttermilk having approximately 4.8 g per serving whilst yogurt has 4.7 g. The calcium benefits are also on par between the two – 116 mg for buttermilk and 121 mg for yogurt.
4. Yogurt has higher value for your health than buttermilk. First off, your body needs to have a healthy amount of ”good” bacteria in the digestive tract. Plain, Organic and Greek yogurts are made using active, good bacteria.
5. Yogurt is Probiotic: One of the words you’ll be hearing more of in relation to yogurt is ”probiotics.” Probiotic, which literally means ”for life,” refers to living organisms that can result in health benefits in supporting healthy digestion, transport of nutrients and immune support when eaten on a daily basis.

Making the Decision: The Choice is Yours

• Whether you choose non-fat or full-fat yogurt may depend on how much protein and calcium you get from other foods. If you need more, non-fat yogurt is the better option since it has higher amounts. Similarly, if you’re trying to lose weight or maintain weight, non-fat yogurt is a better choice because it has a lower energy density value, meaning it has fewer calories but plenty of protein and many vitamins and minerals per serving.
• If your objective is to gain weight healthfully or add fat to your diet, try the full-fat variety instead. It is the difference in the bacterial content that makes yogurt a healthier choice due to the probiotic support in helping to maintain a healthier digestive system as mentioned.
• Whereas buttermilk. The milk fermentation is done by bacteria that make lactic acid – the streptococcus lactis and leuconostoc citrovorum, which is the one that transforms lactic acid into ketones and aldehydes ‘“the two components responsible for buttermilk’s aroma and flavour. However, it is important to note that this may be harmful when consumed due to other reactions within our body systems.
• On the contrary, there are two kinds of bacteria mixed in the yogurt. The large and rod-shaped bacilli (either L. bulgaricus or Lactobacillus acidophilus) and cocci chains of Streptococcus thermophilus. These good bacteria are imbedded in the milk protein called casein.
• A simple explanation is that yogurt has live, beneficial bacteria added to the milk. However, with the rising issues of some people not being able to tolerate milk products. This process is being brought into coconut milk and soy milk. These products being plant based have less allergic affects. Always to remember to purchase organic products.
• Yogurt is often tolerated better by the gut, than buttermilk. Sometimes even if people are not able to tolerate many dairy products can find yogurt tolerable because of the fermentation process and addition of beneficial bacteria. The non-dairy version are best for people who have a lactose intolerance. There is also a lactose free yogurt available.

Summary of Differences

1. Generally, the fermentation process for yogurt making is a lot faster than buttermilk fermentation.
2. The fermentation temperature for buttermilk is cooler compared to yogurt.
3. Yogurt gives more energy, fat, protein, calcium than buttermilk.

4 Nutritional Tips for YOU!

1. If a food tends to make you feel uncomfortable, bloated or ill. There is a very good chance that your body is telling you to avoid that food.
2. The worst combinations are to combine animal protein with say dairy. An example of this is say Chicken Parmigiana, any meat dish where you have dairy and meat together.
3. It is possible if you are suffering stomach issues after eating dairy, that you may be allergic to dairy.
4. Digestive problems and thyroid issues can be related to gluten intolerance, so it can be beneficial to eliminate gluten.
5. Also avoid all processed meats such as ham, salami, metwurst. If you are going to have meat, have it lean and freshly cooked. You can also use this in salads or sandwiches for lunch.

Want to Learn More about the Foods to Eat & Why with Easy-to-Follow Recipes

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