Yoghurt To Combat Heart Disease

An Australian study seems to show that moderate daily consumption of yoghurt prevents carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT). But consumption of milk and cheese at the same level had little effect in neutralizing such thickening.
The findings of the researchers at Sir Charles Gardener Hospital have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a journal of the American Society for Nutrition. The report is titled ‘Association between yoghurt, milk, and cheese consumption and common carotid artery intima-media thickness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in elderly women.’
“Through its role in reducing IMT, prolonged daily yoghurt consumption of 100 g/d may play a role in stroke and atherosclerosis prevention,” and recommends further exploration of the benefits of yogurt and probiotics, “ the report says.
Accredited practicing dietitian Kerry Ivey says the study emerged because of the lack of research into the effect of whole foods on CCA- IMT, especially in relation to dairy products.
“In general, dairy products get a bit of a bad rap in regards to cardiovascular disease, but there has been a demonstrated cardiovascular benefit in probiotic and yoghurt consumption,” Miss Ivey says.
“We’re trying to explore the benefits of yoghurt as distinct from their dairy characteristics.”
The trial used a cohort of 1,080 Perth women over the age of 70, who had been randomly selected for a ‘Calcium Intake and Fracture Outcome Study’.