By michael - February, 23rd 2014

Have you noticed that the yogurt section of most grocery stores has practically taken over the dairy aisle? It’s getting harder to find more traditional dairy foods, such as cottage cheese and sour cream, amid the sea of yogurt options. But it only makes sense that a food with as many health benefits as yogurt be given prime real estate in the supermarket.

London: According to a recent study eating low-fat yogurt can reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes by almost a third.

Researchers at Cambridge University analysed seven-day food diaries kept by 4000 British men and women aged 45 to 74 years, including 753 people who developed type-2 diabetes over the following 11 years.

They found that the risk was reduced by 28 percent in people who ate a large amount of yogurt than those who ate none.

While the study could not prove a conclusive causal link between eating dairy and lower diabetes risk, the association was strong.High consumption of other low-fat fermented diary products including cottage cheese and fromage frais was also associated with a reduced risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Scientists suspect that fermented dairy products are beneficial because of the probiotic bacteria, as well as a special form of Vitamin K produced during the fermentation process – however the …

Some low-fat yogurt contains added sugar or flavorings that can make it a less healthy option than plain yogurt. Adding fresh fruit to plain yogurt is generally a better option than eating yogurt with added fruit plus sweeteners. If you want your yogurt to be a bit sweeter, you can add a small amount of honey, molasses or maple syrup to it. However, keep in mind that these sweeteners also contain calories and natural sugars, so you should only use them in moderation.

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