This summer’s focus on elite athletic performance highlights the health benefits of a diet that includes probiotic-rich Greek yogurt.

Sun Valley, CA -- (SBWire) -- 07/31/2012 --As the world’s greatest athletes seek every possible performance advantage, sports nutrition has become a growing field of study. “An athlete’s diet, nutrient intake, and supplementation protocol plays a role in not only performance, but health and well-being,” says June M. Lay, M.S.

Research has shown that prolonged bouts of high intensity or endurance exercise temporarily depress the immune system, making athletes vulnerable to infection, and making it harder for them to recover from their competitions. But fortunately for elite athletes, the probiotics found in products such as Voskos Greek yogurt can increase a healthy immune system.

That isn’t the only benefit of probiotics. “In one study, conducted pre- and post-marathon, 83% of the runners reported that they occasionally or frequently suffered one or more gastro-intestinal disturbances while running or immediately afterwards,” says Lay. “That’s a sobering statistic.” The probiotics in Voskos Greek yogurt have been shown to prevent infections and antibiotic-caused diarrhea, colon cancer, reduce bowel inflammation, and manage irritable bowel syndrome. “So adding Greek yogurt to their diet may really make a difference in the health and performance of these athletes,” says Lay.

Voskos Greek Yogurt has been recognized in awards contests presented by Fitness magazine, Women’s Health, Vegetarian Times, Natural Solutions, Self Magazine, Prevention and Cooking Light magazine. Visit the Voskos Web site for dozens of Greek yogurt recipes for high-protein, low-carbohydrate breakfasts, appetizers, entrees and snacks. Voskos Greek Yogurt, America’s first national Greek yogurt brand, is available in stores such as Kroger, Safeway, Publix, Bi-Lo, Whole Foods, and Sprouts.

About Voskos Greek Yogurt
Award-winning for its thick, rich taste and nutritional value, Voskos Greek Yogurt is all-natural, hormone-free, gluten-free, and Kosher certified. Through Voskos’ proprietary ProStrain™ method, Voskos yields two times more protein, more probiotics, less lactose, and a thicker, creamier consistency. Voskos offers an organic Greek yogurt line and all-natural line in both plain and blended flavors. Available nationwide, retailing between $1.49 - $2.99 in stores such as Kroger, Publix, Bi-Lo, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and more. For store locations and other great opportunities visit Facebook.com/Voskos.Greek.Yogurt today.

About June Lay
June M. Lay, M.S. is a lifestyle columnist at HealthNewsDigest.com.