Key Publications Signature of healthy diet

Are yogurt eaters different than other consumers?

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Yogurt consumers seem to have more adequate nutrient intakes. They also tend to make other healthier food choices, helping to improve overall diet quality. Finally, yogurt consumption is linked to other healthy lifestyle and sustainable habits. What’s in it? Learn more with Angelo Tremblay and Shirin Panahi.

Yogurt is commonly viewed as a healthy food and is part of the diet of many people worldwide. Did you know that yogurt consumption is an indicator of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle? This is probably the uniqueness of yogurt, which is a vehicle for quality of the whole diet.

Yogurt eaters are less likely to have inadequate intakes

Yogurt is known to be a healthy food, it’s in its inherent nature. Its specific manufacturing and fermentation process give him higher amounts of several micronutrients including group B vitamins, calcium, potassium, zinc and magnesium. It’s also a nutrient-dense food with low energy density, which promotes adherence to dietary guidelines for many nutrients and could be a healthy swap. Beyond its nutrient content, there is evidence, suggesting that yogurt consumption might exert a favorable impact on other food choices.

Frequent yogurt consumers (≤1 time/week) have a higher Healthy Eating Index, which expresses the quality of the diet. Furthermore, yogurt consumers have healthier non-nutritional behaviors, such as reduced smoking and are more physically active than do non-consumers. In other words, yogurt consumption is a signature of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

A good way to be “eco-friendly”: Eat Environmentally Friendly

Another important aspect investigated by Tremblay and Panahi is the sustainability of yogurt. Based on the greenhouse gas emission, related to food production, processing, transporting, and retailing of different foods, yogurt appears to be an eco-friendly food. The carbon footprint of yogurt production is low to moderate, compared with other foods.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), one of the components of a sustainable diet includes reference to the health and well-being of the population. This explains that sugar and sweets, despite their little effect on the environment, cannot be considered to be part of a sustainable diet, while yogurt can perfectly fit.

Want to learn more about yogurt consumption?

 

Source: Tremblay A and Panahi S. Yogurt Consumption as a Signature of a Healthy Diet and Lifestyle, Journal of Nutrition 2017;147:1S-5S.

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