How Is SCD Yogurt Different From Regular Yogurt?

The many health benefits of yogurts have been long known to mankind. For instance, the importance of its nutritious value can be determined by the fact that a cup of yogurt contains almost half of your daily calcium needs. Calcium is paramount for your teeth and bone health. 

Apart from this essential mineral, yogurt is rich in many other nutrients, like vitamin B12, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, to name a few. These essential nutrients are vital for your body’s health and proper function.

Though yogurts have been around for centuries in a regular form, i.e., by fermentation of milk, there evolved a particular variety that has piqued the interest of the yogurt-consuming population in recent years. It's called SCD yogurt. And, it has quite a few valid reasons. SCD yogurt stands to be more beneficial than regular yogurt in certain cases.

In this blog post, we will discuss how SCD yogurts differ from regular ones.

Key Differences Between SCD Yogurt And Regular Yogurt

The term SCD refers to Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It is a kind of restrictive diet, limiting the amount of carbohydrates and only allowing some specific types of carbohydrates in the diet. Thus, the SCD diet does not contain any form of sugar and hard-to-digest carbohydrates like grains, cereals, etc.

That does not mean the diet lacks nutritional value. In fact, SCD diets are very nutritious, and people on SCD diets, for whatever reasons, can derive a lot of nutritional value from their diets by being conscious of their health and food choices.

Since SCD diets limit sugar and other carbs, yogurts prepared along with the SCD guidelines also eliminate their use. Therefore, its preparation, ingredients, and technique differ from regular yogurts.

1.   SCD Yogurts As An Alternative

People with gastrointestinal issues, specifically Crohn’s disease, ulcerative Colitis, or other bowel-related disorders and sensitivities, are advised to stay on SCD diets. SCD yogurt has become a fundamental component of such a diet due to its easily absorbable, probiotic-rich, and gut-friendly properties.

As such, it became a conscious, healthy, and remedial alternative to regular yogurts for many people.

2.   The Ingredients

There is no doubt that regular yogurt is of lesser importance. It is very healthy and has its benefits. However, its ingredients consist of milk and live bacterial starter cultures that contain beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus Bulgaria and Streptococcus Thermophilus. However, it has disaccharides and polysaccharides, a form of sugar that may harm people with gut sensitivity.

Therefore, it is worth noting here that the milk used in preparing an SCD yogurt is sugar-free, and the fermentation process includes an extended fermentation time (usually approximately 24 hours) so that any remaining sugar or lactose gets dissolved and chemically broken down naturally. It ensures the yogurt is more easily digestible and absorbable for those with lactose intolerance and other digestive issues.

Also, SCD yogurt can be prepared from plant-based non-dairy milk derived from soy, rice, oats, etc., or nut milk like almond milk, cashew milk, etc. These may contain different nutritional values and lesser lactose content.

3.   The Fermentation Process

Regular yogurt preparation involves fermenting the milk by introducing a live bacterial starter culture that will break down the lactose and convert it into lactic acid. It gives the yogurt its characteristic tangy flavor and thick texture.

SCD yogurt goes a step further with the fermentation process. It requires an extensive fermentation of the milk and a different technique of fermentation where usually the milk is mixed at a later stage when the starter culture is sufficiently fermented and the lactose content in it is dissolved. This extended fermentation also builds up more probiotic content in the yogurt which is beneficial for the gut.

4.   Probiotic Content

Probiotics are live microorganisms, usually containing live bacteria and yeasts, that help improve and restore gut health.

Although regular yogurt has an ample quantity of probiotic content in them, SCD yogurts due to their longer fermentation process and time, have more probiotic content as compared to regular yogurt. Also, due to differences in ingredients used, fermentation process, time, temperature, and technique, the variety of probiotic content differs.

5.   Health Benefits

While regular yogurt offers numerous health benefits like improved digestion, enhanced nutrient absorption, and balanced and healthy gut flora, SCD yogurt's additional features provide even more advantages.

Due to its low lactose content and higher probiotic concentration, SCD yogurt might be better tolerated by individuals with lactose intolerance or digestive disorders. Furthermore, its probiotics may help alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and promote a balanced gut environment.

Empower Your Health With Conscious Choices

SCD yogurt differs significantly from regular yogurt in its ingredients, fermentation process, and potential health benefits. As part of the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, SCD yogurt offers a lactose-free, probiotic-rich option that can be beneficial for individuals with gastrointestinal issues.

Embracing the positive impact of SCD yogurt may further empower better gut health and overall well-being.