Activia is a yogurt brand that will supposedly help regulate your digestive system. Dannon, the company behind Activia, claims that they use all-natural ingredients to resolve minor digestive discomforts, which isn’t a lie. However, if you’re looking for weight loss, that’s not what you’ll find in the majority of cases.
We chose to set our research team on this popular brand to check out the science and determine if Activia is any different from other probiotic-based products.
What is Activia?
So, what exactly is Activia? Produced by Danone, Activia stands out as a distinctive yogurt brand that goes beyond just being a dairy product. Unlike many traditional yogurts that house two common strains of ferments, Activia takes pride in its unique blend, boasting five different strains. This variety is headlined by its exclusive Bifidus strain, scientifically known as Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010/CNCM I-2494. This particular strain is the powerhouse behind Activia’s celebrated benefits.
Furthermore, what truly sets Activia apart is its dedication to promoting gut health. Consuming Activia can potentially lead to a reduced frequency of minor digestive discomforts. And when we talk about these discomforts, we’re referring to those occasional bouts of bloating, unsettling gas, abdominal pain, and that uneasy rumbling sensation. The catch, however, is that to reap these benefits, one must be diligent. It’s recommended to indulge in Activia twice daily over a span of two weeks, ensuring that it’s paired with a balanced diet and a wholesome lifestyle.
Now, diving into its composition, it’s important to note that Activia is a probiotic yogurt. Probiotics, often hailed as the “good bacteria,” have been the subject of extensive research over the years, with scientists keen on unraveling their myriad health benefits. These beneficial bacteria play a pivotal role in regulating our digestive system. Hence, it’s no surprise that Activia has become a staple for many, especially those grappling with conditions like diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or general sluggish intestinal movement.
For those wondering about the palate experience, Activia doesn’t disappoint. It offers an array of tantalizing flavors ranging from classics like Strawberry, Vanilla, and Peach to more exotic options like Black Cherry, Mixed Berry, and Prune. With such a diverse selection, it’s easy to incorporate Activia into daily dietary routines, making gut health both a priority and a pleasure.
In essence, while there are myriad yogurt brands lining supermarket shelves, Activia, with its unique blend of probiotics and commitment to digestive well-being, has carved a niche for itself. It’s more than just a yogurt; it’s a commitment to a healthier gut and, by extension, a healthier you.
- Advances in Nutrition – “Bifidobacterium and strains of lactic acid bacteria are the most widely used bacteria that exhibit probiotic properties and are included in many functional foods and dietary supplements. Probiotics have been shown to prevent and ameliorate the course of digestive [issues] such as acute, nosocomial, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea; allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) and allergic rhinitis in infants; and Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea and some inflammatory bowel [issues] in adults.”
- Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology – “Therapeutic and prophylactic effects of some probiotics and prebiotics for a variety of gut-related [issues] might be, at least in part, mediated through modification of the microbiota and/or its function.”
- Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology – “… although several mechanisms are observed when studying a single probiotic strain, not all individual strains are expected to share the same effects.”
How Did Activia Start?
In the early 1980s, Dannon researchers got curious about bifidobacteria. They decided to develop a particular strain of the probiotic that could thrive well in yogurt despite yogurt’s acidic medium.
The researchers reached a consensus to add the Bifidus Actiregularis strain to the common yogurt bacteria. This birthed one of their widely-known yogurt products called Activia today.
When all was said and done, Activia was introduced into France by Groupe Danone (The Dannon Company in America) in 1987. By 2013, Activia had gained entrance into five continents and over 70 countries all around the world.
Dannon and the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Dannon has been in business for more than 100 years. Have they learned how to treat their customers? Here’s what the BBB file has to say.
- Dannon has A+ BBB rating.
- The company file was opened in 1986.
- They are not accredited by the bureau.
- Three complaints have been closed in the past three years.
Activia Claims
Dannon once made claims that there’s no yogurt anywhere in the world containing the ‘good bacteria’ Bifidus Regularis.
In itself, this claim is valid because Bifidus Regularis is a trademarked name that no other company has the power to use.
In September 2009, Activia settled a lawsuit claiming the company deceptively used advertising to convince consumers Activia would help regulate gut health. The company was forced to pay $35 million in damages, according to the GI Society.
What’s more? December 2010 saw Dannon having to make a considerable settlement of $21 million with the Federal Trade Commission for exaggerated claims that Activia could deal with digestive irregularity and slow intestinal movements.
Activia Ingredients
So what does Activia contain?
Ingredients:
Activia contains cultured reduced-fat milk, water, sugar, fruit sugar or fructose, food starch (modified), >1% milk protein concentrate, kosher gelatin, cornstarch (modified), guar gum, agar, lactic acid, vitamin D3, sodium citrate, and calcium lactate.
The natural vanilla taste may also be found in any flavor of the Activia Yogurt. In contrast, Activia Fibre, in addition to the other ingredients, contains red wheat bran, inulin, rolled white wheat flakes, and rolled oats.
Activia Light, on the other hand, includes sucralose and aspartame instead of regular sugar.
Probiotics
Apart from the traditional bacteria found in most yogurts, Activia contains a probiotic strain known as Bifidus Actiregularis.
Hence, the Activia yogurt contains Bifidobacterium animalis DN 17,010, a proprietary probiotic strain of the Bifidobacterium marketed under names Bifidobacterium Actiregularis, Bifidobacterium Regularis, Bifidobacterium Lactis, and Bifidobacterium Digestivum.
According to ISRN Nutrition, probiotics can have many benefits on human health. This is because they benefit bacteria in the body, unlike antibiotics, according to Official Publication of The College of Family Physicians.
Does Activia Work?
There are more significant reasons to agree that Activia works than otherwise, although it’s considered part of a probiotic fad.
Activia products are referred to as foods enriched with numerous probiotics that offer optimum health benefits when consumers take them in adequate amounts. However, the positive results of consuming this kind of food are often known as functional foods, depending on the strains and their doses.
This is why Dannon boasts its unique selection of probiotic strain, which can thrive in yogurts like Activia. According to Dannon, this strain has been proven from studies to go through the entire gastrointestinal tract without issues.
More so, placebo-controlled studies also reveal that when included in a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, consumers may also enjoy a reduction in how frequently they experience digestive discomfort, per Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology. One study published in Current Opinions in Gastroenterology found that probiotics may also benefit immune health.
There may be cases of minor discomfort like gas, bloating, and rumbling on the flip side.
In general, more research needs to be performed on probiotics, prebiotics, and their role on the digestive system, according to Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Health.
Activia Benefits and Results
“Activia may help reduce the frequency of minor digestive discomfort,” says Dannon. We can also tell you that including yogurt in your diet is a nutritious and effective way to get the amount of protein and calcium your body needs.
Moreover, Activia yogurts, irrespective of flavor or variant, contain the good bacteria known as probiotics required for the digestive system. Dannon Activia also can provide the body with minerals, vitamins, and sugar.
HESCA also lists probiotic power, health to bones, and adequate protein content as some of the benefits of Activia. The proprietary strain of probiotic bacteria is what distinguishes Activia from all other probiotic strains.
Although it is said that there are probiotic yogurts that have good bugs that are equally as beneficial as Activia’s, nonetheless, Activia says it helps to keep gastrointestinal issues away. There have also been a few testimonials of being relieved of diarrhea when Activia was taken.
Activia may also provide health to the body’s bones because it contains a good amount of Vitamin D and calcium.
Activia’s protein content may also provide the body with the necessary repair of body tissues. These proteins may also help to create the right environment to fight off illnesses and diseases.
According to Tropical Life Sciences Research, probiotics can benefit the immune system, mental health, and oral health.
Activia and Weight Loss
From reviews and comments on public forums, we can say Activia, because of its probiotics and nutrients, is very useful in regulating the digestive tract. However, in our search on Activia, we didn’t see any clinical or scientific proofs on its ingredients and whether it helps with weight loss.
However, one study published in Obesity Facts on PO.150 found that “probiotic low-fat yogurt (0.5%), fermented with Bifidus ActiRegularis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus” could reduce body weight.”
In any case, bearing in mind that what affects weight loss depends on your caloric intake. Introducing Activia to your diet may be an excellent way to get started on a weight-loss plan.
Here are a few suggested ways that could happen:
Calories
The caloric content in Activia Yogurts varies with the type you decide to opt for. You can get as low as 60 calories from the Activia Light variant and 90 calories from the Activia yogurt’s vanilla variant. The Greek Vanilla Yogurt, which comes in larger containers than the other options, provides 140 calories.
So if you are thinking of reducing your calorie intake as a weight-loss strategy, going for the low calorie-content Activity Light will be an excellent way to make that happen.
On an elementary level, if you reduce your daily intake of calories by, say, 500 to 1,000, you’ll shed 1 to 2 pounds every week.
Then again, if you are all about something more effective for weight loss, then you should go for supplements that have been clinically proven to do the job without hassles.
How to Take Activia
For the best results, Dannon advises consumers to include Activia in a regular balanced diet by consuming it two times every day for two weeks.
According to Livestrong, one serving of the Activia yogurt’s cherry variant has 1.5 grams of fat and 90 calories. The serving also contains 4 grams of protein, which is equivalent to 9% of the total amount of protein women need in their diet and 7% of what men need.
Other flavors of the Dannon Activia Yogurt like the prune, banana, peach, strawberry, vanilla, and peach have the same calorie, protein, and fat content, whereas the blueberry variant has 90 calories.
Activia can be incorporated into your diet in various ways. You can choose to have it for breakfast as a stand-alone meal when combined with fruits or grains. You could also want to have it as a smoothie. And of course, you can decide to have it on the side when you have your regular meals.
Oh yeah! Familiar with Mediterranean dishes? These dishes make good combinations with yogurt, and Activia is known to do the job well.
Potential Activia Side Effects
Dannon says consumers may experience a few minor issues with consumption. These problems may include one or a combination of the following:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Rumbling
- Gas
- Bloating
It is almost no longer news that probiotic bacteria commonly found in good yogurts are very useful in fighting unwanted and harmful bugs in the intestinal tracts like fungi, yeast, and parasites. However, one cannot overlook the anecdotal reports of side effects with Activia Yogurt consumption.
Here are a few:
Digestive Problems
There have been a few complaints from some consumers of some digestive problems that occur from taking Activia. These issues include acute abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, acid reflux, bloating, and irregularity.
Worsening Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance
Some consumers also complained on public forums of how their lactose intolerance worsened as a result of eating Activia.
Diabetic Issues
It is important to note that certain flavors of Activia have high sugar content, which may be why diabetic patients who have consumed this yogurt have experienced challenges with their blood sugar level.
Other Issues
Even though these effects, which are related to the body systems, have not been stated on the Dannon website, they have been discussed on public forums. They include muscle pains, increased rate of metabolism, sleeping problems, anxiety, and headaches.
Activia Product Warnings
Dannon has advertised Activia as yogurt with a good amount of the excellent bug known as Bifidus Regularis. Among many others, this bug is known to be a suitable replacement for the good bugs that are removed from the flora of the bowels by antibiotics.
However, because it also contains lactobacillus, there are a few things to note about taking Activia:
- Although the bacteria found in Activia called lactobacillus is meant to grow to get its job done in the consumer’s system, it can grow out of proportion. This bacteria may even cause diseases in the body, which is a red flag for those who have weakened immune systems. Such patients are required to contact a physician first.
- Antibiotics, when taken, help to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in the body. However, an antibiotic’s effectiveness may be reduced when antibiotics are taken alongside foods like Activia that contain Lactobacillus. Then again, taking immunosuppressant drugs to reduce the immune system’s function can also increase the chances of becoming sick.
- Chemotherapy patients and patients who take immunosuppressant drugs for organ transplants may develop severe infections in the blood. Thus, those who have low immune systems of this sort are advised to avoid foods that contain lactobacillus like Activia.
Lawsuits on Activia?
As a manufacturer of health-related products, except if you have sufficient evidence to back your health claims, it is always safe to leave it out of your ads. It is very likely Dannon would have saved its neck if it paid attention to this detail.
In 2008, Dannon was slammed with a 21 million dollar charge for alleged false representations about DanActive and Activia Yogurt. And this stemmed from some of the adverts aired by Dannon, the New York Times reports.
In one of the adverts, the narrator is known to have said that “With the natural culture Bifidus Regularis, Activia eaten every day is clinically proven to help regulate your digestive system in two weeks.”
Of course, this didn’t sit well with the Federal Trade Commission, who raised brows at this. The company claimed to have clinical evidence that a serving of the Activia Yogurt could relieve temporary irregularities and help slow transit time in the intestine.
To address Dannon’s substantiation, FTC zeroed in on a link featured on Dannon’s website with the Health Care Professional label. Oh well, as this label implied, it is for those who know the nitty-gritty of health care.
It’s only a digression. Stay with us.
The FTC explains it as “a detailed scientific resource that will provide in-depth information about Bifidus Regularis and its effect on slow intestinal transit,” it mentioned a couple of clinical studies carried out by Meance along with some others. FTC complained that Dannon’s submission on these studies was misleading as some vital information about these studies was withheld.
Thus, the hidden information concealed the fact that the difference in intestinal transit time between studies on those who took the Activia and those in the placebo group was statistically insignificant.
Dannon eventually agreed to the settlement, which stated the following:
- Except the claim is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Dannon is not allowed to claim any yogurt, probiotic drink, or food that can reduce the chances of getting the flu or a cold.
- Dannon is not permitted to lay claims that Activia will relieve consumers of temporary irregularity or even produce faster intestinal movements. If it must be mentioned in an ad, it mustn’t be misleading information, and it must also be backed by clinical evidence involving two humans that at least three servings are required to get these benefits stating the veracity of the claim.
- Dannon is also not allowed to lay claims that some other yogurt, probiotic drink or food, or dairy drink will relieve consumers of temporary irregularity or even produce faster intestinal movements. If it must be mentioned in an ad, it mustn’t be misleading information, and it must also be backed by clinical evidence involving two humans that at least three servings are required to get these benefits stating the veracity of the claim.
- Dannon is also not allowed to misrepresent results from any studies or tests. And except its claim has competent backing and strong scientific proof, it may not make other claims on the performance, efficacy, and health benefits of any dairy drink, yogurt, or probiotic drink or food.
Activia Alternatives
Other probiotic yogurts provide essential health benefits. According to the manufacturer, one of them is the Yoplait Original, which has clinically tested and proven cultures and contains Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Calcium.
Yoplait Original has gained wide acceptance and is the most used probiotic yogurt. It contains the ‘good bug’ that helps fight bacteria and pathogens that can cause illness and is also said to improve lactose intolerance, prevent diarrhea, and deal with inflammatory bowel problems. Yoplait Original comes in 18 flavors, and each serving provides 150 calories.
Customer Service Information
You can call or text 1-877- 326-6668 from 9 AM to 6 PM eastern time, Monday thru Friday (Note: Texting rates may apply.).
Address: The Dannon Company, Inc. 525 Keystone Ave Pittston, PA 18640
Phone: 1-877-DANNONUS
Contact Form: http://www.dannon.com/feedback-form/
The Bottom Line on Activia
Before you race through the grocery store to the dairy aisle, let’s take one more look at this one. We like that Activia contains some natural ingredients and that the price seems reasonable, but we have concerns about this one because the research doesn’t point toward weight-loss. We’re also a bit hesitant due to customers talking about negative side effects and ingredients not working.
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