5 benefits of fermented milk

Humans have been drinking milk for a long time. In fact, scientists believe that our organisms first developed the ability to digest lactose around 7,500 years ago in central Europe. ¹ Over thousands of years, the consumption of milk has spread in our diet and throughout the world.

To preserve this ingredient of natural origin and make consumption outside both tasty and safe, we used to rely on an old process: the fermentation . Things changed somewhat when Pasteur introduced pasteurization in 1862. ² However, fermentation remains important today, thanks to its other advantages in terms of both taste and lactose digestion benefits . So let’s discover the five benefits of fermented milk …

Fermented milk benefit 1: taste, flavor and more flavor

The benefits of fermenting milk are numerous : the most obvious, especially to the taste buds, is the taste. Regardless of whether you have Greek or Bulgarian yogurt , European kefir , Mexican jocoque , or Swedish filmjölk , all of these fermented milk drinks are made using lactofermentation . This process involves the addition of bacterial cultures to the milk, which is subsequently gently heated.

Bacteria, when added, feed on the lactose in milk and convert it into lactic acid . ³ This lactic acid is responsible for the strong, acidic notes found in many fermented food products, including fermented milks and yogurt .

Fermented milk benefit 2: its thickness

The fermentation not only transforms the taste of milk, but also modifies its texture. The lactic acid and the acidity produced by the bacteria cause milk to thicken. ⁴

If left long enough, the milk curdles and forms the denser texture and slightly more acidic flavor of natural yogurt (Greek yogurt, kefir…), or even fresh cheese.

Yogurt is a specific type of fermented milk . With touches more acidic than yogurt, the consistency of fermented milk is somewhere between the creamy and soft consistency of yogurt and the diluted and smooth consistency of milk. All the different flavors and textures are due to the variety of bacterial strains .

At DANONE, we draw on our ‘ Strain Library’, a unique collection of bacterial strains (over 4000 microorganisms, of which 1800 are unique to DANONE) to combine various live strains and develop the great flavors and textures of our yogurts.

Fermented Milk Benefit 3: Its Safety

The chemical changes that occur through lactofermentation not only influence the taste of milk. They also prevent the proliferation of pathogenic contaminants. ^5-6 However, this is nothing new, as humans have been fermenting milk for thousands of years. ⁷

Did you know that one of the first forms of yogurt was randomly discovered by Proto-Bulgarian shepherd tribes ?

Fermented milk benefit 4: breakdown of lactose and improve its digestibility

Milk contains a natural sugar known as ‘ lactose ‘. During the fermentation process , living bacteria feed on this nutrient and break down some of it into more digestible compounds. It is one of the reasons why different products derived from fermented milk contain different amounts of lactose. ⁸

And there is still more! Live bacteria present in fermented milk and yogurt help break down the lactose in the product in the intestine and thus improve lactose digestion in people with lactose digestion problems . ⁹

This benefit could be useful for people with difficulties digesting lactose ¹⁰ who are trying to reduce the intake of lactose in their daily diet .

Fermented milk benefit 5: enjoy milk in different ways

Thanks to its varied flavors and textures and its benefits for digestion, fermented milk and its derivatives such as yogurt are good options for inclusion in a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. ¹¹ Plus, they’re refreshing, easy to customize as fun desserts, easy to use in recipes, and suitable as a snack at home or on the go.

Fermented milk and yogurt can add diversity to your daily diet and help you reach your recommended calcium intake. ¹²