Is it possible to prevent diabetes by eating yogurt?
The FDA in the United States has made inferences about its possibility.
The health department declared in March that it would not contest a claim made by Danone North America, the company that makes Dannon and other well-known yogurt brands, that consuming yogurt on a regular basis may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
“As long as the qualified health claims are worded so as not to mislead consumers, and as long as other requirements for the use of the claim are met,” the FDA plans to permit the claim to appear on yogurt food labels.
“After reviewing the petition and other evidence related to the proposed qualified health claim, the FDA determined that there is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, but this evidence is limited,” the FDA said in a statement.
A “qualified claim” is what the FDA recently approved as a health claim.
That means, according to Sherry Coleman Collins, a food allergy dietitian and expert from the Atlanta metropolitan area, the data is suggestive rather than strong or conclusive, but it is helpful to human health.
The minimum quantity of yogurt required to meet this qualifying health claim is two cups (3 servings) per week. This is considered regular usage.
She said to Fox News Digital, “I don’t like the idea of suggesting that one food alone has the power to reduce disease because we really just need to look at the pattern of eating.”
“Yogurt — as part of a diet rich in plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains, protein foods like lean meats and/or beans, lentils and soy, and fermented dairy — has shown to be very health-promoting,” Collins added.
Collins says that a wonderful method to include beneficial bacteria in your diet is to use yogurt that has live, active cultures.
According to her, “a healthy gut lowers the risk of many chronic conditions. A healthy gut is one that is heavy in healthy strains and has a diverse microbiota.”
“The good bacteria found in fermented dairy are associated with overall better health and lower rates of disease, including type 2 diabetes.”
Collins advised buying yogurts with the least amount of added sugar possible.
“Plain Greek yogurt is fantastic, because it’s high in protein and calcium, and you can adjust the sweetness to your liking by adding a little honey and/or fruit,” she said.