Your Dr Tells You To Eat Yogurt, Here's Why You Shouldn't Listen

The World Health Organizations recommendation on sugar intake is 5 percent  of your daily calorie intake. For an adult of a normal body mass index (BMI), that works out to about 6 teaspoons -- or 25 grams -- of sugar per day.

When patients complain of constipation, stomach upset, yet infections, intestinal problems, and even in weight loss; doctors recommend yogurt. 

Great studies show... a lot of my patients have found success in... if you don't want to take medications.... Eat Yogurt"  ---Standard Dr. Phrases

I know what you're thinking

What about all those studies showing yogurt has helpful bacteria? What about the stories I read about it having pre-biotics to help my stomach? Isn't that what Activia is for? Why would my doctor tell me to eat it if it's not good for me? Are you suggesting that all the scientific studies are wrong? 

Just Calm Down There Big Shot

When studies are conducted on yogurt, they are not conducted using Yoplait yogurt or Dannon's. The studies are conducted on pure, unrefined yogurt. Not the stuff you buy at the store. Real yogurt tastes bitter, is thick and goes bad in a matter of days. It is unmarketable to the public (generally speaking).
 It IS good for you, but you'd never to eat it, it wouldn't be able to be widely sold because it would go sour too quickly.
​Both manufacturers and stores would lose profit. 

Then somebody got an awful idea, a wonderfully awful idea...

(what i picture in my minds eye)

In some all white standard office sits a table of three. The boss, the employees, and a flow chart across the room showing nothing but red.
After the silence became too deafening to bare, poor, thin Charlie clears his throat and speaks up to the stone faced man who's his employer.
"Hey Mr. Bossman... what if... this is just an idea here I'm floating out there.. just setting it's sails... what if we added a massive amount of sugar to the yogurt and artificial chemicals to preserve it? It could last for weeks!"
"Charles, damn you, that's a brilliant idea! But how will we market it?"
"Well, Sir, Stanley and I here... umm.. we figured since it WAS yogurt, we could market it as a health food, and, you know, the studies should back us."
"Get Mason on the phone, we have some work to do.."

QUICK TEST! HOW MUCH SUGAR SHOULD YOU EAT IN A DAY?

You Shouldn't be eating more than 25g of sugar a day, or about 5% of your caloric intake.
Keep that in mind while we browse the yogurt section together.

Okay so let's listen to Dr.White Coat and buy some yogurt. 

But what I find in the store is a little different than the ad I saw...

18g of sugar!?

"Okay maybe buying "the original" isn't the best idea.. we're on a diet here.. doctor said eat yogurt..."

10g of sugar!?

"So your telling me that this yogurt has to be 1/2 of my sugar I eat ALL day? And what are all those ingredients?...maybe yoplait isn't the way to go at all..."

14g of sugar

9 g of sugar

I'm no rocket scientist, but if the max is 25g for an adult, then it should be about half that for a child right? Looks like our kids are getting their entire day's serving of sugar in one overpriced pouch of "yogurt". Maybe the more expensive fancy stuff is better?

12g of sugar

22g of sugar

Okay Dr. White Coat, tell me again why I should be eating this stuff? Oh.... for the pro-biotic (or pre-biotic) benefits right? 
​Great. Let's get into it then shall we? 

Bacteria is alive. Meaning, it can die.
Do you really think there's living good bacteria in that yogurt? 
High doses of sugar actually raise our bacteria level...
...causing more intestinal bacterial growth, more yeast infections and more belly discomfort.
What happens then, Dr. Watson; when we mix high volumes of liquid sugar, bacteria laden yogurt and puss filled milk together?
Ok now I'm feeling sick.
Riddle me this Dr. Who, do you think I should be eating Potassium Sorbate? 
A 2010 study published in “Toxicology in Vitro” found that exposure of human blood cells to potassium sorbate in the laboratory caused damage in DNA.  I'm sure in "small quantities it's fine right? right?
 Hey Columbo, do you think I should be eating Carrageenan? 
This commonly used thickening agent, Carrageenan can actually hurt gut health.

Because here is the reality:
If you eat one yogurt a day, you will gain weight.
So why are doctors making suggestions that they surely must know are bad? Greek yogurt isn't much better, and still doesn't contain real bacteria. 
If you are trying to losing weight, stop eating yogurt. Just because Dr. White Coat tells you to do it, doesn't mean you should. 
Be the powerfully educated consumer you are and #BeYourOwnHero 

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