When you scan the diary aisle on the way home this evening in search of a healthy dessert treat, you might want to think twice before picking up your go-to fruity yogurt. That’s because a new study published earlier this week in the BMJ Open warns that yogurts that may seen ‘healthy’ actually contain the highest amount of sugar.
*Spoon drop*
For the study, scientists from the University of Leeds and the University of Surrey analysed 921 yogurts currently on sale in UK supermarkets, and discovered that a typical yogurt contains more than half – yes, half – an adult’s daily recommended sugar allowance (which is approximately 30g, according to the NHS).
This category also included several products that didn’t contain yogurt, such as chocolate mousse and creme caramel, reports the BBC.
Excluding natural, Greek and ‘Greek-style’ yogurts, the average sugar levels in your favourite tub of ‘yog’ were found to be well above the 5g of sugar per 100g marker required to be classes as ‘low sugar’.
“Items labelled ‘organic’ are often thought of as the ‘healthiest’ option, but they may be an unrecognised source of added sugars in many people’s diets,” said lead author Dr Bernadette Moore, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, via the Telegraph.
The second most sugary product analysed in the study was organic yogurts with a typical 13.1g per 100g. By comparison, a 100g serving of a typical cola contains 9g of sugar.
So, where does that leave us when it comes to choosing a ‘healthy’ yogurt?
Well, let’s not write off the dairy dessert all together. After all, it can be a fantastic source of protein, calcium, iodine and vitamin B12. And, that’s not to mention they’re also associated with lower risk of obesity, cardio metabolic risk, and blummin’ delicious in the morning or post-workout.
However, the study found that natural, ‘plain’ and Greek-style yogurts were found to contain much higher levels of protein, lower carbohydrates level and the least amount of sugar that normal yogurts, with the average of five grams per 100g, largely made up of naturally-occurring lactose.
This is certainly food for thought.
From: ELLE UK
