With the Easter holidays around the corner, it is a tempting time to indulge and eat all the chocolates you can find. This of course leads to the aftermath of those uncomfortable bloating episodes and discomfort. Follow these tips so you and your digestive system can enjoy the holidays:

1. Hydration: have you drank enough water today?

Most people will find themselves constantly snacking because of dehydration.

Keeping up your water intake can reduce those feelings as well as maintain concentration by staying properly hydrated.

2. Remember your fibre

Fibre is the key to happy microbes in our gut. Make sure you pile up your plate with fibre rich foods to help you over the holiday period. This could be adding beans to meals, tossing in healthy grains for salads and incorporating oats into smoothies.

3. Practice mindful eating

It can be a challenge not to overeat and consume lots of sweet treats during Easter.

Being mindful when we eat does not mean restriction but in actively considering what we are consuming. Taking the time to enjoy what we have on our plate can help with digestion and save you from the regret of over-indulging.

4. Stock up on probiotics

Our intestines contain trillions of bacteria. The bacteria in our intestines help keep us balanced and healthy. Probiotics help to replenish the goodness within. Stocking up on beneficial  bacteria like the LcS strain in Yakult over the holidays is a great way to assist our digestive balance.

5. Enjoy a post-meal walk

The idea of an after-meal nap is enticing but isn’t as helpful as a post meal walk. Movement can help boost digestion along with breathing in fresh air after a big meal. Taking a walk will not only decrease your chances of experiencing acid reflux but also allow you to enjoy the holiday ambience.

Thank you for everyone who has participated in the March Yakult Trivia – How Much Do You Know About Yakult?

These are the 10 winners below:

1. Paul E.
2. Sara S.
3. Chelsea H.
4. Ledam N.
5. Nicole G.
6. Tabitha S.
7. Chester W.
8. Anna T.
9. Coreena B.
10. Peter N.

Please come back to our website again for the April entry and a chance to win the prize below!

For more information about the monthly Yakult Trivia, please refer to the blog post here – HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YAKULT?

In line with International Women’s Day on March 8^th, it is a good time to reflect on and learn more about the health issues that largely affect women. As a result, we have put together a comprehensive list of common health issues among females. Particularly, we have included great resources and tips to ensure you or someone close to you can easily stay on top of their health.

Cancers Common in Women

Breast Cancer

Each year, around 17,000 women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer. With early diagnosis, there is an increased chance that cancer will not come back after treatment. Therefore, it is important to ensure you keep up with the routine checks:

Mammograms

BreastScreen Australia offers free mammograms to women 40 years of age and older every two years.

Self-Screening

Before the age of 40, or in between your routine mammograms, you can also easily do a ‘self-exam’ to find any changes in your breast.
Breastcancerorg. has a great visual and written guide on how to do your own at-home exam and the Breast Cancer Network Australia has a good list of things to look out for in the exam.

Other Resources

Further Information

Self Exam Video

Cervical Cancer

There are nearly 1000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year in Australia. There are ways to easily monitor yourself and prevent cervical cancer from developing:

HPV Vaccine

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the cause of almost all (90%) cervical cancers. There is a vaccine that protects against HPV with almost 100% effectiveness (even 10 years after the vaccine!).

Cervical Screening

Even with the HPV vaccine, it is recommended to keep up with regular cervical screening to monitor any changes in the cervix. In fact, since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program, the number of cases and deaths due to cervical cancer in Australia have halved.

In the past, this was done via a ‘Pap Smear’, this has now been replaced with the more effective Cervical Screening Test. With better ways to screen for HPV, the Cervical Screening Test only needs to be conducted every 5 years (if found to be negative for HPV).

Other Resources

Further Information

Prevention – HPV Vaccine

Screening – Cervical Screening Test

Vaginal Health

Vaginal Microbiome

The vagina contains a substantial amount of bacteria, with a number second only to the large intestine. These bacteria assist to protect the health of the vagina, helping to keep the pH balance (on the more acidic side) and keeping potentially harmful bacteria at bay.

Using perfumed soaps, vaginal washes/douches or any other harsh cleaners in this area can cause the healthy bacterial balance to be thrown off, causing things like thrush and bacterial vaginosis.

Did you know probiotics can help the treatment of thrush and bacterial vaginosis?

Other Resources

Tips for Staying Healthy Down There

Pelvic Floor

The muscles of the pelvic floor are essential for good control over the bladder and the bowel, meaning their strength is important going to the toilet and passing wind. A weakened pelvic floor can cause a loss of control over urinating and passing stool or wind.

Other Resources

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Constipation

Constipation can happen at any age or gender but female hormones can increase the likelihood of women becoming constipated. Constipation is classified as having a bowel movement less than three times in a week, hard stools, pain when passing stool or only small amounts of stool being released each time. Some ways to reduce constipation are:

• Drink more – fluids help stool move through the bowel
• Exercise – regular movement helps stimulate the bowel muscles
• Increase fibre – fibre is found in plant foods and helps bulk the stool to move through the bowel
• Probiotics – Yakult’s probiotic bacteria, the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, have been found to improve stool consistency and reduce constipation

Other Resources

Preventing Constipation

Yakult Benefits

You can learn about ways to support intestinal health, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding here

Thank you for everyone who has participated in the February Yakult Trivia – How Much Do You Know About Yakult?

These are the 10 winners below:

1. Minami V.
2. Estela A.
3. Emily B.
4. Taylor B.
5. Paul E.
6. Niusami S.
7. Terja L.
8. Felice J.
9. Simon M.
10. Peter N.

Please come back to our website again for the March entry!

For more information about the monthly Yakult Trivia, please refer to the blog post here – HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YAKULT? 

Have you been to a supermarket and sometimes feel overwhelmed with choices? How do you compare between products? What do you look out for when you are looking at the food label?

What is a nutrition information panel? 

The nutrition information panel (NIP) is found on most food and drinks labels and provides information about the nutrition content of a food or drink, allowing you to make an informed choice. The NIP provides information on the average quantity of and nutrients: protein, total fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars and sodium (salt). This information is provided per serving size and per 100g (grams) or per 100mL (millilitres).

A NIP will also include other nutrients for which the manufacturer has made a nutrient content claim. As an example, Yakult has included the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain in our NIP as only our fermented milk drinks contain the unique probiotic Shirota strain.

Ingredients list 

All ingredients in packaged foods are listed in descending order by weight. Checking the ingredients list will tell you what has been added to the product, which is particularly important if you need to avoid certain ingredients due to allergies or a health condition. You can use this information to help decide if the product is the right choice for you.

Serving size 

The serving size is determined by the manufacturer, which can help you to calculate the nutrition information for the serve you eat.

A “serving size” is a standard amount of a food, such as a cup. Serving sizes can help you when choosing foods and when comparing like items while shopping, but they are not recommendations for how much a certain food to eat. You will need to take into consideration if your serving size is the same as the recommended serving size, or if it is smaller or larger then what you need. A dietitian can help you with this.

Quantity per 100g or 100mL if liquid

This information is useful to compare similar products. The figures in the ‘quantity per 100g’ column are the same as percentages. For example, 20g of fat in this column means the product contains 20% fat.

Energy 

Energy is measured in kilojoules (kJ) or calories (cal). Protein, fat, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, and alcohol all provide energy (kilojoules). The amount of energy each of us needs depends on many factors and differ between individuals.

Fat 

‘Total fat’ includes all polyunsaturated, monosaturated, saturated and trans fat in the food. Check the ‘saturated fat’ amount on similar products and choose the one with the least amount of saturated fat per 100g.

‘Trans fats’ are not required by law to be listed on the NIP but some manufacturers will list trans fats. Look for products with less than 1g of trans fats per 100g, particularly when buying margarines or baked goods.

Carbohydrate

‘Total carbohydrate’ includes both the sugars and starches in food. The ‘sugar’ amount refers to how much of the total carbohydrate is made up of sugars, which includes both added sugars and natural sugars such as lactose in milk and fructose in fruit.

Remember, the total carbohydrate affects blood glucose levels, not just the sugar. A dietitian can help you work out how much carbohydrate you need each day.

Sodium

This figure tells you how much sodium (salt) is in the food. Where possible, choose products with ‘reduced’ or ‘no added’ salt. A low-salt food has less than 120mg of sodium per 100g. When comparing similar products, choose the one with the lowest sodium per 100g.

Dietary fibre

The NIP does not need to include fibre amounts unless a nutrition claim in made on the label about fibre, sugar or carbohydrate, for example, ‘high in fibre’.

Reference: 

• https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/labelling/panels/Pages/default.aspx
• https://www.ndss.com.au/about-diabetes/resources/find-a-resource/understanding-food-labels-fact-sheet/

Introducing our monthly Yakult Trivia for 2022!

Every month from February to November, we will be releasing 5 questions on Yakult and health, plus a bonus creative “In 25 words or less tell us” question.

All Yakult and health answers can be found from our website and resources published on www.yakult.com.au.

10 winners will be selected based on answering all trivia questions and the 10 most creative answers to the 25 words or less challenge. New and unique Yakult prizes to be won each month.

At the end of the year, a limited number of grand prizes for those who complete the most monthly trivia sessions correctly in 2022 will be awarded. So, don’t forget to come back to visit our webpage to complete the trivia quizzes each month!

Join our monthly trivia here:

https://form.jotform.com/220306178727860

How to enter: 

Submit trivia form (one entry per person).

10 monthly trivia sessions running each month from the 1st February 2022 to the 30th November 2022.

Each month’s trivia will only run to the last day of the month.

Grand prize winners for the year will be announced in December 2022.

The winners will be notified via email and their names will be published monthly via our social media or blog post.

Open to Australia and New Zealand residents only.

Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

All prizes are as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prizes are not transferrable. Prizes are subject to availability, and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value. Prize value does not exceed $100 AUD.

Yakult Australia’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the trivia competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The information provided will be used in conjunction with the following Privacy Policy found at https://www.yakult.com.au/privacy-policy/.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, or any other Social Media Network channels.

Sleep hygiene refers to good sleep habits that best ensure high-quality sleep and help us restore our energy. Most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep per day, not just at night, but also including naps during the day.

There are many factors that affect sleep hygiene, sometimes this include long-term bad habits that we are not aware of. Changing sleep habits isn’t necessarily difficult. Different methods work for different people. Find what works best for you and stick to it, you will find your sleep improve over time. However, if you still experience trouble falling or staying asleep despite adhering to good sleep hygiene, consult your doctor to find out if other possible factors may be affecting your sleep quality.

Tips for Maintaining Sleep Hygiene

The State of Bedroom

Keep bedroom dark and quiet at night.

Avoid watching TV or using mobile phone when on bed.

Use the bed only for sleeping.

Try to avoid sharing bed with children or pets.

Preparing for Bed

Choose comfortable and appropriate quilt warmth, pillow and mattress.

Taking a warm bath before bed can help generate drowsiness encouraging sleep.

Keep hands and feet warm by wearing thermal underwear as needed in winter.

Cultivating Drowsiness

Never force yourself to sleep.

If you can’t fall asleep in a short time, you should get up and find something calming to do. Remember to avoid light and go back to bed when you feel sleepy.

Avoid checking your watch or clock frequently to prevent anxiety and stress, making it even more difficult to fall asleep.

Sleep Routine

Keeping a regular sleep schedule will encourage you to feel sleepy and wake up at a fixed time. Best to avoid going to bed or waking up earlier or later than your regular sleeping time.

It is not recommended to make up for a late night’s sleep by waking up late the next day.

Try to avoid working morning and evening shifts at the same time, as inconsistent bedtimes can disrupt one’s body clock.

Lifestyle

Maintain moderate and regular exercise to improve sleep. Try to avoid exercise before bed as that activates the brain.

Melatonin is critical for sleep. Exposure to the sun during the day can increase the production of melatonin, allowing it to work more effectively at night.

Consuming no more than 400mg of caffeine per day, which equals to 2 espresso coffees.

Nicotine is a stimulant that obstructs sleep. Quitting smoking will allow you to fall asleep faster and deeper.

Medication

Some medication have side effect making people drowsy or alert. Always read the instructions and follow your doctor’s advice when taking medication.

Short-term use of sleeping pills may be necessary in some situations, however, it is best not to rely on them. Long-term use of sleeping pills may cause the inability to fall asleep naturally.

Yakult and Sleep

A study published in 2016 found that consuming Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain (LcS) could relieve stress-induced symptoms such as anxiety¹. Another study published in 2017 showed that daily consumption of fermented milk rich in Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain (LcS) may help to maintain sleep quality under psychological stress when consumed in 100ml bottles².

In Australia, each bottle of Yakult contains 6.5 billion of Yakult’s exclusive Shirota strains. Learn more about Yakult: https://www.yakult.com.au

Reference

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26896291/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28443383/
3. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/sleep-hygiene
4. https://www.healthnews.com.tw/news/article/51970

Yakult’s long-standing commitment to the Essendon Football Club will continue into its 20th year with a three-year extension announced today.

Proudly, Yakult is the Bombers’ longest-serving commercial partner. The extension will see the Yakult continue as the training ball and interchange bench sponsor, the official partner of the prestigious Crichton Medal, and the annual Challenge match during the home-and-away season.

Essendon CEO Xavier Campbell acknowledged Yakult’s longevity and loyalty to the club and was excited to continue the partnership into a second decade.

“As our longest-serving commercial partner, we are so thrilled to continue our relationship with Mr Kenji Ono, Mr David Whatley and the Yakult family,” Campbell said.

“To work in partnership together for over 17 years is something both organisations should be incredibly proud of. In recent years, we’ve seen Yakult align with our charity partner Challenge to present our annual Tackling Childhood Cancer Game, which highlights the partnership going from strength to strength and for the betterment of others beyond our organisation.”

“We thank Yakult for their wonderful and ongoing support of the Bombers and look forward to working together as we head towards the 20-year milestone.”

Yakult Managing Director, Mr. Kenji Ono said “We are very pleased to extend our partnership with the Essendon Football Club. We share Essendon’s commitment to loyalty and the community, so the decision to continue the partnership was a simple one. We look forward to the next three years and we feel it is especially auspicious given that it coincides with Essendon celebrating their 150^th anniversary this year.”

Established in 1872, the Essendon Football Club’s proud journey has included 16 VFL/AFL premierships to make it one of the most successful and revered clubs in Australian Football and Australian sporting history. Learn more about our partner Essendon here.

With the start of the festive season upon us, there is no better time to reflect on the year we have had. It is fair to say that this year has been an eventful one. Here at Yakult Australia, this is a recap our favourite memories in 2021:

Ian Thorpe Yakult Commercial Filming

School Holiday program

Donating to our real-life superheroes

Yakult Man at the Melbourne Rebels Game

Attending the Pregnancy, Baby and Children’s (PBC) expo

Our dietitian providing Nutrition Talks at aged care facilities

It is important during this time to keep up our healthy habits. Yakult is a great way to keep our gut nice and happy during this special season. Share the love and your Yakult with your family and friends this Christmas.

From our family here at Yakult, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope that this time of the year is filled with laughter, joy, and delicious Christmas goodies. May the new year bring all of you good things. We cannot wait for what the year 2022 has instore.