A new study warns that yogurt products, especially the ones for children may contain more sugar than soft drinks. Yogurt is generally touted to be one of the healthiest food items to consume. Known to aid digestion and improve overall health, it also proves to be a good source of ‘friendly’ bacteria.
However, a recent research conducted found that apart from natural yogurts and Greek yogurts, the average sugar content in most yogurts was well above the natural sugar intake threshold. The researchers said that this news in highly concerning given the rise in child obesity and the prevalence of tooth decay amongst children.
“While yoghurt may be less of a concern than soft drinks and fruit juices, the chief sources of free sugars in both children and adults’ diets, what is worrisome is that yoghurt, as a perceived ‘healthy food,’ may be an unrecognised source of free/added sugars in the diet,” researchers said.
“While the organic label refers to production, the well-documented ‘health-halo effect’ means that consumers most often underestimate the caloric content and perceive the nutritional contents of organic products, including yoghurts, more favourably,” researchers said. Well, it looks like not all yogurts are as healthy as they are perceived to be. Stay tuned for more updates.