We all know by now that fat-free yogurt is a great food for dieters and those who just want to eat healthy. It is high in calcium and protein, and has lots of good bacteria to aid with digestion. But have you noticed that it’s also being touted as the latest fat-burning food, especially for belly-fat?
Have you heard of the yogurt diet, or noticed ads for nearly every kind of yogurt, displaying women who are on diets, and women who don’t need to be on diets wearing sweatsuits? Have you ever wondered why the Dannon (Danone) commercial for Activia, doesn’t just say it helps with constipation, but instead displays a very trim waist shedding ??what exactly?? It almost looks like it could be shedding pounds of fat, not something completely different.
And yes, there is now some science to back up these implications, BUT guess who’s sponsoring these studies? General Mills (makers of yoplait), Dannon, and the National Dairy Council, just to name a few. (To see examples of studies they’ve sponsored, just click the highlighted names.)
And is there a marketing agenda? Of course there is. Here’s one glaring example in the US:
3 A Day Campaign: http://www.innovatewithdairy.com/
While these studies may be based on scientific research, we have to consider the source, and that is: Manufacturers Who Want Us to Purchase Their Products.
So, what are they saying is the magic ingredient in yogurt that spurs fat burning? Is it the calcium? Is it the probiotics? Is it the milk protein? Is it because it’s a low-glycemic food? Will we have yogurt extract diet supplements now??? It’s simply not clear. Instead, we have to take the “activia challenge” for two weeks (and then continuously for the rest of our lives), or replace breakfast with a serving of yoplait—which is loaded with artificial ingredients.
What’s wrong with a 1/2 a cup of all-natural, organic, low-fat yogurt, or delicious Greek yogurt, sprinkled with a some healthy granola and a little fruit? Should I now feel guilt if I’ve eaten whole grain toast with natural fruit-spread, and an apple instead?
My point is about balance. Yogurt will not provide every nutrient the body needs. While it is a wonderful food, so is skim milk, and so are veggies, fruits, and whole grains… Let’s not do our health a disservice by omitting other healthy foods from our diets.
Despite the brand-names’ claims, let’s keep in mind that a healthy diet is about balanced nutrition. Losing weight is about burning fat through activity and not taking in more calories than our bodies actually use. Low-cal/low-fat products can aid us along the way, and yogurt is one of these, but it’s not the be-all-end-all.
One last point to keep in mind is that all of the studies involved low-calorie diets and activity, and for all of the claims made by manufacturers there is always a note mentioning that exercise and a low-calorie diet should go along with their product.
Technorati Tags: Greek yogurt
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That’s true, if you have yoghurt but also a diet that has too many calories or unhealthy ingredients, then the benefits of yoghurt will be neutralised. So if you’re into anti aging or skin care, then you should look at overall diet. I like the yoghurt with no arificial flavors, preservatives, sweeteners, or colors etc, and they taste so much better.
Without effective natural medicine, the Battle of the Bulge is almost impossible for most of us. We try the usual dieting and exercise, but it’s very discouraging when months go by and nothing changes.
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What I feel is yogurt is definitely very good for digestion and for a healthy diet but so are the veggies and the fruits…so why not spread them out the platter of the week to get an even balance and also nutrition from the food?
Loved your post on yogurt and the cure for belly fat. Many people think just one food or magic pill will solve all their problems. So glad that you mentioned it is the overall balance of a good healthy diet and lifestyle that makes all the difference.
I’m suffering from my excessive belly fat too. Your post is very comprehensive and detailed! It shows me a new way to workout to lose my belly fat. I’ve never realize that yogurt could help us get rid of it. Thanks a lot.
Very informative article. I agree with you that yogurt doesn’t provide every nutrient the body needs. To be able to function properly, our body needs 114 different nutrients every day.Different foods provide different nutrients so we cannot to consume, for example only yogurt, and omit other healthy foods like vegetables or fruits.
I am going to give this a try. Both my daughter and I always gain weight in our bellies. Poor thing, I guess she inherited the trait from me. I guess in some ways it is good, because we don’t really gain weight in our thighs, but I had the belly bulge either way.
Capable of weight loss or not, yogurt for me provides a myriad of benefits that go beyond aesthetics. It enhances the function of the digestive system and it’s an ideal dressing for fruit salads.