If you're undecided about which yogurt to choose, we present a valid alternative to traditional yogurts, without soy and naturally produced with healthy and nutritious ingredients.
Yogurts can be vegan too
In recent years, people who buy and use 'vegan' products are no longer just those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, but also include that segment of consumers who simply decide to incorporate healthier products into their diet. In general, people are becoming much more informed and more attentive to what they put on their table. In fact, it seems that there is an increasing preference for nutritious foods, without preservatives or colorants, produced while respecting the environment.
In response to this new trend, the food sector is expanding rapidly, especially the world of plant-based dairy alternatives. Today, we find new products on the market created using different raw materials. This category includes all foods that substitute cheese, milk, and yogurt. In particular, when analyzing the family of plant-based yogurts, we generally find on the market: yogurts with almond milk, soy, or coconut.
Soy: what's good and what's bad about it
The most appreciated yogurts are certainly those based on soy. But the question that many people ask themselves today concerns the benefits (or harms) that soy can have on our body. The debate on the issue remains open, but some studies have shown that soy is not as beneficial to our health as we think.
In other words, we need to pay more attention to the amount of soy we consume every day. Below we report an extract from an article published on the 'Harvard T.H. Chan' website that could help clarify the matter.
Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) similar to human estrogen but with weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause both weak estrogenic activity and anti-estrogenic activity. The two most important isoflavones are genistein and daidzein. Soy proteins and isoflavones seem to act differently on our body based on the following factors:
- Type of study. Was a study that examined animals or humans taken into consideration? Soy can be metabolized differently by animals, which is why the results of studies based on findings in animal bodies cannot be applied to humans as well.
- Ethnicity. Soy can be assimilated and used by our body distinctly in different ethnic groups. This is precisely why individuals from some countries who eat large amounts of soy seem to benefit from this food.
- Hormone levels. Since soy can have estrogenic properties, its effects can vary based on the levels of hormones already present in the body. Premenopausal women have higher levels of estradiol – the most important form of estrogen in the human body – compared to postmenopausal women. In this context, soy can act as an anti-estrogen, but among postmenopausal women, soy takes on more of an estrogen role. Additionally, breast cancer affecting various women is classified based on hormone type – receptor-positive (ER+ / PR+) or receptor-negative (ER- / PR-) – and these cancers respond differently to estrogen intake.
- Type of soy. What type of soy is being considered: soy-based foods like tofu and soybeans, processed versions like soy protein powder, or soy-based veggie burgers? Fermented or unfermented soy foods? If supplements are used, do they contain isoflavones or soy proteins? Therefore, there are various factors that make it even more difficult to construct general statements regarding the health effects of soy."
Source: Harvard T.H. Chan – School of Public Health: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/soy/
Yo-Ger is the perfect dairy-free yogurt
Yo-Ger is the new product from Mozzarisella. It's a unique and extremely innovative product. We can't wait for you to taste it! This 100% Italian plant-based yogurt is an excellent alternative to traditional yogurts, made only with the best ingredients.
It's possible to enjoy it in different flavors, in addition to the natural version:
- Strawberry
- Mango and passion fruit
- Peach and apricot
The company firmly believes in creating organic products that are good for our body and mind, using healthy ingredients. Among the goals, we also find that of not harming the environment and respecting animals, while at the same time trying to create tasty products.
What is this plant-based yogurt made of?
Have you ever heard of germinated brown rice before? If your answer is no, don't worry… below we will try to introduce you to this cereal and all its properties.
Yo-Ger is produced starting precisely from germinated brown rice, a food absolutely recommended by many nutritionists given the presence of numerous nutritional components, such as fiber, proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, amino acids, etc. This cereal still has its germ, which contains various vitamins that are normally lost during the traditional rice processing process. The natural rhythms of germination are kept unchanged: brown rice seeds are in fact "activated" in spring water. After that, the company transforms the germinated brown rice into their "plant milk", and many other products.
Furthermore, laboratory analyses have shown that this milk alternative contains amino acids and nutrients that are similar to those contained in breast milk.
Nutritional values of germinated brown rice
The chart below compares the nutritional values present in germinated brown rice and white rice.
Other nutritional information about this plant-based yogurt
Today it is extremely easy to find alternatives to traditional yogurts. But by carefully reading the labels, many of these could contain a high percentage of preservatives, colorants or gluten. Consumers in these cases mistakenly think they are eating a healthy and better product. Yo-Ger, for its part, is completely without all the additive ingredients mentioned above, GMO-free and, obviously, lactose-free.
How to use plant-based yogurt in the kitchen
Yo-Ger is extremely versatile and tasty. For this reason, it is a perfect option not only for people who follow a vegetarian/vegan diet, but for all those who want to enjoy a fresh alternative, including children. You can try it for breakfast, to start the day with the right energy, or as a dessert or even as a fresh snack.
The recipe we propose for a vegan and 100% homemade ice cream, made with YO-GER and lots of fruit, is perfect for these summer days.
Two-color Vegan Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of cherries
- About 1/2 cup of apple juice
- 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
Cream:
- 1 natural Yo-Ger
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey
Preparation
Blend the fruit (in this case cherries, but you can also experiment with new combinations with fresh or frozen fruit as desired) with maple syrup or honey in a blender.
For the cream: always in a blender, combine natural Yo-Ger and maple syrup or honey.
To create the two-color ice creams, pour the two preparations alternately into the appropriate molds. To enrich everything, you can also add pieces of fruit.
At this point, let it freeze for about 6 hours.
Can the term "Plant Yogurts" be used?
As read in this extract from an article published in "Il Fatto Quotidiano": "The Court of Justice of the European Union has established that purely plant-based products cannot be marketed with names such as "milk", "cream or cream", "butter", "cheese" and "yogurt", because this designation is reserved for products of animal origin by Community law. The ban, according to the judges, also applies in the case where these designations are completed with explanatory or descriptive indications, which indicate the plant origin of the product in question."
Source: Il Fatto Quotidiano – The Court of Justice: "If it's vegan it can't be called milk and not even butter or cream": https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/06/14/la-corte-di-giustizia-se-e-vegan-non-si-puo-chiamare-latte-e-neanche-burro-o-panna/3658667/
However, a great debate is still underway on this topic in many other non-European countries. Several dairy producers are fighting, arguing that the use of such words for plant-based products would be misleading for consumers, since normally milk, cheeses and yogurts are of animal origin.
This fact could also be seen as a symptom of the change that the sector has been facing in recent years. New products have already been launched on the market, others are being born and probably also need a new name.
If you want to know more, don't hesitate to contact us! We will provide you with all the information and details about our line of vegan products.
Mozzarisella website: https://www.mozzarisella.com/