Tip of the Day:

A Cup of Yogurt a Day to Keep the Doctor Away?

Want a convenient, good-for-you food that's a calorie bargain, extremely versatile, packed with vitamins and minerals — and a tasty treat? Say yes to yogurt! In addition to eating it plain or mixed with fruit, you can add yogurt to soups, sauces, marinades, and dressings, or use it as a healthy base for drinks.

It has quickly become a favorite snack food for the health conscious because it comes in both low-fat and nonfat varieties and is rich in calcium, potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, and phosphate. A single cup of fat-free yogurt contains 50 percent more calcium than the same serving size of milk — providing a third of your recommended daily requirement. Since it's lactose-free, yogurt also provides a dairy alternative for people who are lactose intolerant.

And yogurt goes beyond being a dieter's dream food. More and more, yogurt is getting recognition for its healing qualities. Doctors often recommend yogurt to patients who get upset stomachs while taking antibiotics. Furthermore, according to the American Association (ADA), the active cultures in yogurt have been shown to bolster the immune system and fight infection in the body.

Of all the active cultures in yogurt, Lactobacillus acidophilus is the most raved about because it helps to balance the digestive system. Unlike other cultures, which don't survive the stomach's acid, L. acidophilus passes through the stomach and settles in the small and large intestines. Here, these "good" bacteria counter the "bad" bacteria that can cause infection — and, ultimately, disease.

But not every food that bills itself as yogurt deserves "super" status. For instance, frozen yogurt and yogurt-covered snacks (plus flavored fruit yogurt) contain added sugar, so you're consuming less of the healthy stuff with each serving. Plus, some of these foods don't contain live cultures. A quick check of the label will tell you which, if any, active cultures the product contains. Look for the National Yogurt Association's Live & Active Cultures (LAC) seal, and remember that the more bacteria (cultures) the product has, the better it is.