Introduction
It's interesting how the differences between the United Kingdom and the United States spill over into their way of life but also with the language. However, there is one common factor between the two, English… or so it seems?
Annoying as it is for those with English as a second language who soon find the English is a non-phonetic language with the number of exceptions exceeding the 'rules' which is anything like their 'mother tongue'. Not only is this about reading and speaking English but this makes itself apparent in the way a word is spelt.
Take the word yoghurt for example, … er… or is it 'yogurt'… my apologies, or is it 'yogourt' now… gosh, this reminds me of a poor chap who spent thirty minutes trying to find the meaning of the word 'know' under the section 'N' for thirty freekin' minutes! The tears in his eyes out of sheer frustration kind of told the story…
One way or another, he would have been happier to find the word 'dahi' (yogurt/ yogourt/ yoghurt in Hindi) which is a traditional Brahmin (a Hindu caste) must-have along with lunch. Well, my grand mom always said that it was healthy and all that jazz but I just loved eating it with sugar and couldn't be bothered with calorie counting when I was a kid! Of course, some 25 years later, I can't help but thank her for the healthy habit…
Nutrients in Yoghurt/ Yogurt/ Yogourt
Right off the bat, yogurt* (the asterisk indicates the spelling I'm using, and of course to hell with the rest) is rich in iodine, zinc, molybdenum, potassium, calcium, protein, riboflavin, vitamin B5 and vitamin B12 and is considered to have more nutritional benefits as compared to that of milk, even though it is produced on the 'bacterial fermentation' of milk itself. These nutrients alone are a clear indicator as to how beneficial yogurt can be to our health in its simplest form. Another interesting fact to note is that folks who are lactose-intolerant can enjoy this 'dairy product' without any fear whatsoever.
Health Benefits of Yogurt
There's no doubt that there are several benefits of yogurt but the one that is most surprising is the presence of 'good bacteria' (by which it is produced) in yogurt that not only prevent the growth of illness causing bacteria, boosts the immune system and digestion and also balances the yeast levels in our body therefore preventing yeast infection that can arise from such imbalances. Another set of benefits when it comes to infections are that they also help preventing urinary tract infections and the irritable bowel syndrome as well.
Apart from this, the nutrient calcium is effective for both bones and teeth and a daily helping of yogurt (and its calcium content) can help you lose weight significantly. The amount of protein content can help anyone get through the day apart from the usual benefits that are commonly associated with the nutrient.
Yogurt is also responsible for raising LDL cholesterol and lowering HDL cholesterol levels, healing arthritis, protecting one from ulcers, reducing the risk of colorectal cancer but helps you with halitosis too!
Conclusion
There's just one problem with yogurt (or is it yoghurt?) though… yes, the way it is spelt in the English language. And I suppose the authorities in dialectical English (and somewhere in the background Noam Chomsky cringes) will pick a spelling just as soon as our modern day brides-to-be decide to pick a last name too.
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