Dad has me drinking two cups of buttermilk a day after a doctor-friend at the temple told him about it.‏

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Buttermilk is a dairy product with a tangy, slightly acidic flavor. Dairies make buttermilk by adding lactic bacteria to skimmed milk and allowing the mixture to ferment. The resulting drink has a curdled texture and is pleasantly sour. While buttermilk is a common ingredient in food products such as biscuits and pancakes, buttermilk as a beverage is a healthy alternative to fresh milk as it provides a variety of digestive benefits.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

A cup of reduced-fat buttermilk contains 137 calories, 4.9 g fat, 10 g protein and a variety of minerals and vitamins. It is especially rich in calcium and phosphorus. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends adults consume1,000 mg of calcium daily as well as 700 mg of phosphorus. Both minerals serve to support healthy bones and teeth. Buttermilk's high protein content promotes muscle tissue synthesis and slows the absorption rate of carbohydrates, thereby stabilizing the body's blood-glucose levels and is a food to lower cholesterol.


PROBIOTICS
Sanjana Shenoy, dietician for KMC Hospital in Bangalore, India, notes that buttermilk is a probiotic food that contains some of the healthy microorganisms that reside within the human intestinal tract. Buttermilk's probiotic properties provide digestive benefits, as it helps to sustain adequate levels of healthy bacteria in the body, which support a healthy immune system and nutrient digestion. In addition to improving digestion, probiotics help the body make vitamins and may work to combat cardiovascular disease and neutralize carcinogens.

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

Lactose intolerance occurs when the small intestine generates insufficient amounts of the lactase enzyme. Enzymes support the absorption of food, and enzyme deficiencies make it hard for the body to digest certain food products. Lactose is the sugar found in milk and an estimated 30 to 50 million American adults find it difficult to digest, according to a January 2006 article published by the National Institute of Health. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, cramps, diarrhea and flatulence. The probiotic bacterial cultures in buttermilk help to digest lactose, which makes buttermilk a favorable alternative beverage to regular milk for those who are lactose intolerant.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Shenoy reports that buttermilk is also rich in potassium, vitamin B12 and riboflavin. Potassium regulates heartbeat, maintains proper fluid balance and plays a role in muscle contraction and energy production. Vitamin B12 works in conjunction with folic acid to maintain a healthy supply of red blood cells while riboflavin, or vitamin B2, helps to metabolize carbohydrates and fatty acids. Riboflavin also helps to maintain healthy body tissues; in particular, the skin and eyes.

REFERENCES
USDA: Nutrient Data Laboratory
Encyclopedia.com; Buttermilk; David Bender; 2005
MedlinePlus: Lactose Intolerance
Nutrihealth; Why Drink Buttermilk; Sanjana Shenoy; August 2008
LCIDA: Vitamins and Minerals
University of Maryland Medical Center: Calcium


Melanie: All I can think is, "Eeew...yuck!" And you thought eating plain Greek yogurt was bad. Ask Dad how long it took him Denmark to enjoy the taste of buttermilk. I think he said it took him almost his whole mission. 

Have fun with it. Let me know how it works for you. :) 

Todd: Buttermilk is good. Especially when mixed with orange juice. Shawn used to drink it all the time. 

Melanie: Okay...did not know that. I say double eeeeww and double yuck to that. That is really gross.