Research - Microbes

Making Bread:
1. Yeast is mixed in with water until it is dissolved.
2.Salt, sugar and shortening is added to the mixture.
3.Flour is then added to the mixture.
4. The mixture is kneaded into a dough.
5.The dough is put into the oven and cooked for a couple of hours
Yeast is used in bread to make it rise, and strengthens the dough.
Yeast works in bread dough by consuming sugar and excreting carbon dioxide and alcohol as byproducts.

-The reason we cook the bread is to kill the yeast so it stops further fermentation.
-Yeast is used for making bread because it causes the bread to rise. The rising of the bread is
as a result of a gas created during fermentation of the yeast. Bread can be created without
yeast but this kind of bread does not rise but rather remains flat.

-Yeast is used in the baking of bread because it feed on fermented sugars and releases bubbles
of carbon dioxide. This causes the dough to rise in the form of bubbles and when the yeast dies,
the gas left behind forms a soft sponge like texture, which gives the bread its shape. This is
called fermentation and also in the process, other products such as alcohol and acids are
released, which end up giving the bread different aromas and tastes.

Yeast is a microorganism which possesses all the features of life. These include the fact they
grow, reproduce, take in nutrient, excrete. Yeast in bread making is mostly about the organism
producing carbon dioxide. Alcohol is produced by yeast in beer and wine production because
the yeast is attempting to grow in an environment that lacks oxygen. Alcohol is an excretion
product that is actually somewhat toxic to the yeast.
(Anaerobic, no oxygen) Yeast uses respiration in the bread by this method:
Sugar --> Alcohol + Carbon Dioxide + Water + Some energy
Bread can affect millions of peoples lives as it is very easy to obtain with only a few main
ingredients to produce it such as flour, yeast & water. Bread also has a relatively long lifetime if
kept in the right conditions. Bread can cure famine and help countries in a disaster to feed their
people. Bread is also very filling for whats required to make it. Its also very cheap to produce.
-Yeast grows best at 26C (79F), and ferments best at 30 - 35C (86 - 95F). At lower
temperatures yeast slows down both processes and becomes "dormant". At higher
temperatures, yeast enzymes do not work well. That is just like a human with a fever.
-The different types of yeast just affect the taste and ease. Instant yeast is designed to be
quicker to prepare. Regular yeast results in a different flavour that the instant, which some
people prefer.





Yoghurt - Bacteria

Yoghurt Production:
1.Milk is taken from cow.
2.Milk is heated to 93 degrees.
3.Milk is then rapidly cooled to 44 degrees.
4.Bacteria Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaris are added.
5.Milk mixture is put into containers.
6.Mixture is incubated at 37 degrees for 4 hours.
7.The Bacteria feed on the milk sugars by extracellular digestion.
8.The bacteria undergo fermentation which curdles the milk proteins.
10.Yoghurt is put into the fridge to stop fermentation.
11.Flavouring is added.
12.Yoghurt is eaten.

-The bacteria in the yoghurt isnt killed in the process of making yoghurt. It is put in the fridge so
it slows the bacteria down. Thats why yoghurt goes off after a while in the fridge, It would
normally happen quickly but the fridge temperature slows the bacteria down.

Sugar lactic acid + water +some energy

Bacteria in the yoghurt produce lactic acid during fermentation of lactose (milk). The lactic acid
lowers the pH and makes it tart and causes the milk protein to thicken.
Also, the partial digestion of the milk when these bacteria ferment milk makes yogurt easily
digestible.

The Bacteria in the yoghurt can die if the optimal conditions aren't reached.
Optimal conditions are warm, moist and have sufficient nutrients.

Most bacteria prefer the neutral pH of 7.0
For Bacteria to grow they need 4 things:
-Temperature, pH, Oxygen and Water.


Health benefits of yogurt?
First off, your body needs to have a healthy amount of ''good'' bacteria in the digestive tract, and
many yogurts are made using active, good bacteria. One of the words youll be hearing more of
in relation to yogurt is ''probiotics.'' Probiotic, which literally means ''for life,'' refers to living
organisms that can result in a health benefit when eaten in adequate amounts.
Several other nutrients found in dairy foods, like calcium, vitamin B-2, B-12, potassium, and
magnesium.
Yogurt May Reduce the Risk of High Blood Pressure
A recent study, which followed more than 5,000 Spanish university graduates for about two
years, found a link between dairy intake and risk of high blood pressure.
''We observed a 50% reduction in the risk of developing high blood pressure among people
eating 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy a day (or more), compared with those without any intake,''
Alvaro Alonso, MD, PhD, a researcher in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School
of Public Health, said in an email interview.
Although most of the low-fat dairy consumed by the study subjects was as milk, Alvaro believes
low-fat yogurt would likely have the same effect.


















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<http://www.ask.com/question/why-is-yeast-used-in-bread-making>.
Elaine Magee, MPH, RDWebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature. "Yogurt Benefits, Health & Nutrition Facts, & More."
WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-yogurt>.
"All About Yeast - Yeast Used in Bread Making - Yeast FAQ." About.com German Food. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr.
2014. <http://germanfood.about.com/od/preparedfoods/a/yeast-Saccharomyces-cerevisiae.htm>.








What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are organisms such as bacteria or yeast that are believed to improve health. They are available
in supplements and foods. The idea of taking live bacteria or yeast may seem strange at first. After all, we
take antibiotics to fight bacteria. But our bodies naturally teem with such organisms.
The digestive system is home to more than 500 different types of bacteria. They help keep the intestines
healthy and assist in digesting food. They are also believed to help the immune system.
How Do Probiotics Work?
Researchers believe that some digestive disorders happen when the balance of friendly bacteria in the
intestines becomes disturbed. This can happen after an infection or after taking antibiotics. Intestinal
problems can also arise when the lining of the intestines is damaged. Taking probiotics may help.
Probiotics can improve intestinal function and maintain the integrity of the lining of the intestines, says
Stefano Guandalini, MD, professor of pediatrics and gastroenterology at the University of Chicago
Medical Center. These friendly organisms may also help fight bacteria that cause diarrhea.
Probiotics and the Immune System
Theres also evidence that probiotics help maintain a strong immune system. In societies with very good
hygiene, weve seen a sharp increase in autoimmune and allergic diseases, Guandalini tells WebMD.
That may be because the immune system isnt being properly challenged by pathogenic organisms.
Introducing friendly bacteria in the form of probiotics is believed to challenge the immune system in
healthy ways.
Probiotics May Help Lots of Ailments
Although they are still being studied, probiotics may help several specific illnesses, studies show. In 2011,
experts at Yale University reviewed the research. They concluded that probiotics are most effective for:
Treating childhood diarrhea
Treating ulcerative colitis
Treating necrotizing enterocolitis, a type of infection and inflammation of the intestines mostly
seen in infants
Preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infectious diarrhea
Preventing pouchitis, an inflammation of the intestines that can follow intestinal surgery
Treating and preventing eczema associated with cows milk allergy
Helping the immune system
Cautions About Probiotics
For the most part, taking probiotics is safe and causes few side effects. People in cultures around the
world have been eating yogurt, cheeses, and other foods containing live cultures for centuries, says
Martin Floch, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at Yale University, co-author of Probiotics: A Clinical
Guide, and a consultant for the Dannon Company.
Still, probiotics may be dangerous for people with weakened immune systems or serious illnesses. One
study found that patients with severe pancreatitis who were given probiotics had a higher risk of death.
Feature, Peter. "What Are Probiotics? Benefits, Supplements, Foods & More."WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 12 Apr.
2014. <http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/what-are-probiotics>.