Title: Yogurt | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Headings: Yogurt
Yogurt
Rich in
Yogurt and Health
For Your Health and the Planet’s Health
Purchase
Make
Serve
Did You Know?
Terms of Use

Content: Another option may be plant-based yogurts, which do not contain lactose. Rich in
Protein
Calcium
Phosphorus
B vitamins – riboflavin and B12 (animal-based yogurt only)
Yogurt and Health
Yogurt offers several important nutrients including protein and calcium. However, much of the research on yogurt’s health benefits centers on its live bacterial content, which is also present in other fermented foods like kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut. [ 2] It has been proposed that a lower number of some bacterial strains in the body may influence risk of certain disease conditions including obesity, type 2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. [ 3, 4] A plant-based diet is associated with supporting a diverse and probably healthier gut microbiota more than a diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in meat, [5] and yogurt consumption may also help to increase microbiota diversity in the gut. [ 6] Learn more about the body’s microbiome. Epidemiological research on specific health effects of yogurt is still limited but a few studies suggest a benefit. In a study following three large cohorts for up to 20 years that included 120,877 men and women free of obesity and chronic diseases at baseline, yogurt consumption appeared to protect from weight gain. [ 7] The authors suggested that changes in colonic bacteria from eating the yogurt may have influenced weight changes. Daily yogurt intake may also protect against heart disease and type 2 diabetes. [