Diabetes prevention

The potential role of yogurt in reducing health disparities

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In the context of the 4th Yogurt Summit in April 2016 in San Diego, we publish every week a key-study of one of the guest speakers. This week we introduce Constance Brown-Riggs: This study focuses on the under-consumption of milk products in African American diets. It emphasizes the important role that yogurt could play, because of its digestibility, even in case of lactose intolerance.

Three key nutrients

Many African and Hispanic Americans avoid dairy products – key contributors of calcium, potassium and vitamin D – because they consider themselves lactose intolerant. But as pointed out in this article, the avoidance of milk products can have health consequences. Increasing research data suggest that many dairy products can contribute to a reduced risk of heart disease, hypertension, obesity and type 2 diabetes, conditions that disproportionately impact people of color.

Yogurt is the best digestible dairy

These findings have motivated the National Medical Association and the National Hispanic Medical Association to recommend, in a consensus statement, the African Americans to eat every day 3-4 servings of low-fat dairy. Yogurt, could play an important role in achieving these recommendations, particularly in people who experience symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Source:
Constance Brown-Riggs, Nutrition and Health Disparities: The Role of Dairy in Improving Minority Health Outcomes, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, Vol 13(28), pp. 1-9.

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