Although it is promoted as a healthy food and consumed by millions of people around the world, a simple food can contain processed ingredients that could be dangerous to health, warns the author of the bestseller Eat to Beat Your Diet (eat to defeat your diet), Dr. William Li.
Not the yogurt itself is dangerous, but certain ingredients in the composition. Photo: Pexels
According to the doctor, certain types of yogurt may be considered dangerous to health. These are those with low fat content, because, to maintain the creamy texture of ordinary yogurt, manufacturers add chemicals and emulsifiers, such as Caragenan and Polisorbate 80, notes the Daily Mail.
“When you eliminate fat from yogurt, the product loses consistency. The producers add emulsifiers to play the texture, but these substances can affect the intestinal health,” explains Dr. William Li.
Caragenan, derived from seaweed, is used in other processed dairy products (cream, cheese, ice cream). Although it has a natural origin, its industrial form is intensely processed and can cause intestinal inflammation – a major risk factor for colon cancer.
Polisorbate 80, another frequently used additive, was associated in animal studies with imbalances of intestinal flora and chronic inflammation – another potential trigger factor of cancer.
A 2021 study of the University of Paris discovered that emulsifiers change the composition of intestinal microbiome, leading to the death or degradation of beneficial bacteria. These changes can weaken the natural defense of the body against colorectal cancer.
Also, a French study of 2022, conducted on more than 102,000 adults, identified an increase in breast cancer risk in people who consume large amounts of food emulsifiers.
What can you do for your health
Dr. William recommends carefully checking the labels and choosing the most natural dairy products, because they are less processed and better for health. At the same time warning that yogurts with flavors or “Light” may contain hidden sugars and chemicals.
“The whole Greek yogurt is processed, but safer. When you add sweet jams or flavors, it becomes an ultra -processing food,” emphasizes the doctor.
Some researchers claim that yogurt in its natural form can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Researchers at Harvard University have found that two portions of yogurt per week can decrease the risk by 20% in the case of cancer types associated with the imbalance of the intestinal flora.
It should be noted that not the yogurt itself is dangerous, but the form in which it is processed. Ultra -home yogurts, with artificial ingredients, can contribute to health problems. In contrast, natural, organic yogurt, without additions, can bring important benefits for digestion and immunity.
