How Often Should I Eat Activia?

Yogurt has gained in popularity over the past few years, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, with sales increasing by 2,500 percent. Dannon, the maker of Activia -- a yogurt marketed as beneficial to digestion -- recommends that you eat at least one container every day to get the benefits.

Activia makes a healthy addition to your diet. USDA recommends 3 cups of dairy a day for good health. Including Activia, or any other brand of yogurt, in your diet can help you meet your daily dairy needs. One cup of yogurt is equal to 1 cup of milk. Choose low-fat varieties to save calories. To limit sugar intake, opt for plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit to sweeten it up. Enjoy up to 3 cups of dairy -- including yogurt -- a day.

Like other brands of yogurt, Activia is a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin D and potassium. Nutrition in the yogurt varies a bit depending on the type and serving size of Activia you like to eat. Options include low-fat, light and Greek. One serving of Activia contains 60 calories to 130 calories, 0 to 1.5 grams of fat, 0 to 1 gram of saturated fat, 10 grams to 18 grams of carbs and 4 to 12 grams of protein. One serving also meets about 10 percent to 15 percent of the daily value for calcium, 15 percent of the daily value for vitamin D and 5 percent of the daily value for potassium.

To make yogurt, friendly bacteria are added to milk, which causes it to ferment, creating the sour taste and thick consistency. These bacteria offer a number of health benefits, including improved gut health and immunity. The bacteria may also make the milk product more tolerable to those with lactose intolerance because the bacteria helps digest some of the lactose in the milk. Activia contains a special strand of bacteria that the manufacturer refers to as Bifidus ActiRegularis.

The makers of Activia conducted research on their special strain of bacteria to assess its effects on digestive health. The company claimed that the bacteria in the yogurt improved digestion and helped irregularity better than yogurt with other strains of friendly bacteria. However, the Federal Trade Commission reports that the company's claims were false, and that the studies did not show any significant improvement in bowel function.