Natural yogurt is one of the best probiotic foods out there. This superfood is made by adding live bacteria to milk. The microorganisms then convert lactose in the milk into lactic acid, which coagulates the milk proteins, resulting in a thick yogurt with a distinct tangy flavor.

The beneficial microorganisms used to produce natural yogurt are called probiotics. They reside naturally in your body and keep you healthy in various ways. For instance, they help balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut by stopping the bad ones from growing out of control.

Stem cells are special cells that have the ability to become any type of cell in your body. They fulfill their purpose by dividing over and over again, producing daughter cells that can become neurons, breast cells, kidney cells and any other type of cell your body needs.

In their study, British researchers hypothesized that bad bacteria can cause breast cancer by disrupting stem cell division. Their hypothesis was built upon the hierarchical model of stem cell genesis, which assumes that the orderly progression of stem cell division requires precise control at every stage of development.

The model suggests that cancer will be rare if that progression remains orderly. But if it gets disrupted, it would give rise to cancer.

The researchers believe that bad bacteria disrupts stem cell division by creating toxins that trigger chronic inflammation. This, in turn, damages cells and contributes to cancer development.

The team also suspects that one of the most common inflammatory conditions – gum disease – is linked to breast, oral, esophageal, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer. At the same time, the bacteria that cause gum disease are known to spread to other parts of the body and cause inflammation.

Eating natural yogurt may help prevent breast cancer

The researchers suggest that eating natural yogurt every day can help prevent cancer because they are rich in beneficial lactose-fermenting bacteria. These anti-cancer probiotics can fight off bad bacteria by using up the nutrients the bad microbes need to survive. Previous studies have shown that yogurt consumption can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Rachael Rigby, a lecturer in biomedicine at Lancaster University and one of the study authors, points out that the probiotics in natural yogurt are the same ones found in the breasts of breastfeeding mothers. Lactating women are less likely to develop cancer than other women, as studies show that each year of breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk by 4.3 percent.

“We now know that breast milk is not sterile and that lactation alters the microflora of the breast,” Rigby says. “Lactose-fermenting bacteria are commonly found in milk and are likely to occupy the breast ducts of women during lactation and for an unknown period after lactation.”

According to Rigby, those beneficial bacteria displace bad bacteria when they enter the breast ducts. This then helps prevent inflammation that can otherwise cause tumor growth.

The researchers say that consuming natural yogurt every day can be a simple, inexpensive means of preventing breast cancer.

How to make natural yogurt

Natural yogurt is plain yogurt without any flavoring. You can buy one from a local producer or you can make your own plain yogurt at home. Here’s how:

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 4 cups nonfat or low-fat milk
• 1/4 cup nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt

Instructions:

1. Heat the milk in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir frequently until it is steaming, barely bubbling and registers 180 F on an instant-read or candy thermometer. Do not leave the milk unattended because it can boil very quickly.
2. Carefully pour the milk into a clean, heat-safe 5- to 8-cup container. Let it stand, stirring frequently until cooled to 110 F.
3. Combine the plain yogurt with 1/2 cup of the milk in a small bowl. Stir the mixture back into the warm milk.
4. Cover the container and wrap in a clean kitchen towel to help keep it warm. Place in a very warm place and let it stand undisturbed for at least 8 hours or up to 12 hours. The milk will thicken and taste tangy during this period. Tip: You can create a warm environment for your yogurt by turning your oven to 200 F for around 5 minutes. Turn it off and place the container wrapped in towel inside.
5. Refrigerate for around 2 hours or until cold. The yogurt will thicken a bit more in the fridge.

The probiotics in natural yogurt can protect you from cancer by helping kill bad bacteria that cause inflammation. Eat this superfood every day to prevent breast cancer.

Sources:

MyClevelandClinic.org

ScienceDaily.com

NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov

MedicalNewsToday.com

ScienceDirect.com

TheLancet.com

EatingWell.com