All about one of the oldest foods

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 268, 20 December 1988, Page 5

All about one of the oldest foods

Yoghurt is one of the oldest foods in the world; the very first "convenience food", invaluable for its nourishment and ability to last longer than ffesh milk.

It has only quite recently become known in the West but has already gained enormous popularity. Yoghurt has come a long way from the skin pouches of the Asian nomads who accidentally discovered it. The bags in which they carried their milk were made from the lining of sheep's stomachs - and here were the beneficial bacteria that fermented the milk in the warmth of the sun. Soon, in those very early days, women leamed to boil milk and inoculate it with a small amount of yoghurt to make a fresh bowl, and it is still made the same way today. We have the benefit of scientific research and up to date knowl-

edge today but there are many references to yoghurt from ancient cultures in Central Asia, the Near and Middle East, and the Balkan countries of South Eastern Europe. Yoghurt has been quoted as having the ability to give long life and fertility to its consumer's. It is also very good for the digestive system. Nineteenth Century studies at the Pasteur Institute led to isolating two basic bacteria, Streptococcus Thermophilus and Lactobacillus Bulgaricus. Theory has it that these bacteria have a beneficial effect on the intestine, controlling harmful bacteria which normally stay there over long periods to

poison the body and hasten the ageing process. Yoghurt can be used as a beauty treatment, models wash their face in it or use it as a face mask. Mix it with oatmeal, strawberries, honey or other natural ingredients as a tonic and pick-me-up for the skin! Natural yoghurt con-

tains more of the B vitamins, Thiamine and Riboflavine, than milk and more protein. Exceptionally rich in calcium, it also contains iron, phosphorous and potassium. Yoghurt is of immense value to anyone on a cholesterol lowering diet as a substitute for cream and soured

cream. It is an ideal food for slimmers as it contains fewer calories than milk. Deliciously creamy and slightly tart, yoghurt containly is a wonder food. Make full use of it, with fresh or dried fruit, honey, nuts, raw vegetables or on its own. Combine it with fish, eggs, meat and poultry, use in vegetarian dishes and to replace cream and soured cream and you will reap the benefits in flavour, health and beauty.