Yogurt has been around for centuries in the Middle East.
Yogurt has been around for centuries in the Middle East. It came to the US, was mixed with fruit and sweetener, and was sold by Dannon in the late 1800s. The 1950 release of Look Younger, Live Longer, a popular book by Gayelord Hauser shot yogurt sales through the roof. And although the FDA hasn’t allowed yogurt manufacturers make health claims since 1962, medical science is still learning about this odd food, which is made from curdled milk. A recent Reuter’s Health Information report tells us that eating yogurt promotes good periodontal health, while foods like milk and cheese do not. The report was published in The Journal of Periodontology. Researcher for the report, Dr. Shimazaki of Japan, believes that the periodontal benefit may be linked to the probiotic effect of lactic acids in yogurt.
In addition to promoting good gum health, yogurt has many overall health benefits:
■It’s great for the digestive system
â– Many light varieties now have only 100 calories per 6-oz serving
â– No saturated fat
â– Low in cholesterol
â– High in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A
â– May benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients
â– Many lactose intolerant people can eat yogurt
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