For several years, consuming yogurt has been linked with good health. However, a new study from Spain has found that eating yogurt regularly does not improve mental or physical health, RTT News reported.
The study was conducted on 4,445 Spanish people aged 18 and over who were hired in 2008 to 2010. The participants were followed up to 2012. Scientists recorded the regular yogurt consumption of the subjects at the beginning of the study along with a validated diet history. They measured the health-related quality of life for the subjects using surveys. Researchers found no link between daily consumption of yogurt and improved mental and physical parameters
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the concept of health-related quality of life encloses aspects of quality of life that can be shown to affect mental health or physical health.
In Spain, dietary guidelines encourage the intake of dairy products, such as yogurt, as part of a balanced diet. Esther López-García, the study's lead author, said that most of the studies have concentrated on the effect as a whole; however, it would be interesting to analyze the independent association between each kind of product and global health indicators. She further said that for future studies more specific instruments should be utilized that may raise the possibility of finding a potential benefit of yogurt.
According to researchers, the study dismissed the possibility that poor health choices may conceal benefits of yogurt since there wasn't any connection between the food and better health for people who consumed a Mediterranean diet and did not smoke.