Low-fat yogurt can be a lifesaver for those who want to eat healthier: it's low in calories, contains probiotics and calcium and has a rich, creamy taste. But recent studies are starting to question whether yogurt is a food you should be eating -- that's especially true for women who are pregnant.
The Harvard School of Public Health has found expectant moms who ate a serving of low-fat yogurt with fruit each day were more likely to have kids who suffered from allergies or asthma by age seven. Interestingly, the same was not found for other dairy products -- for example, mothers-to-be who drank milk had no greater risk of giving birth to a child with allergies.
"This is the first study of its kind to link low-fat yogurt intake during pregnancy with an increased risk of asthma and hay fever in children," says lead author Ekaterina Maslova.
The study raises a lot of concerns about whether pregnant women should be eating yogurt. But it also calls into question whether people should restrict their intake of so-called "low-fat" or "diet" foods -- yogurt isn't the first to be linked to a health issue.
-- Numerous studies have found a link between diet soda and obesity. It's said diet soda could be making men and women fat, even though it technically has zero calories.
-- Studies published in the Journal of Marketing Research showed people who ate "low fat" versions of their favourite junk food (for instance, chips) would usually end up eating more than they normally would have because they don't practice portion control with the low-fat version.
-- Low-cal frozen meals are usually packed with sodium, which could affect your blood pressure.
-- What sugar-free cookies lack in sweet stuff, they make up for in fat according to Dr. Oz. And seemingly healthy items like veggie chips are actually no better for you than regular chips.
Which means while diet foods could help you trim down, they could adversely affect your health.