Yogurt lovers are, generally, healthier eaters

Researchers from Tufts University in the US found that yogurt lovers also consumed more fruits, vegetables, nuts, fish, and whole grains, reports MyHealthNewsDaily.

"Yogurt is a very good source of many shortfall nutrients calcium, potassium, and magnesium that Americans don't currently consume enough of," study author Paul Jacques told MyHealthNewsDaily. "Yogurt is a good way to meet your dietary requirements for nutrients that you may not be currently eating."

For the study, researchers analyzed 50 years of data collected from more than 6,500 US adults, ages 19 to 89. All subjects responded to a 126-item questionnaire on their diets over the previous year.

More than half of the subjects were regular yogurt eaters 64 percent of women ate yogurt and 41 percent of men did. Average amount was over two cups of yogurt.

The yogurt fans had not only better-quality diets but higher potassium intakes plus they were less likely to have inadequate intakes of vitamins B2 and B12, calcium, magnesium, and zinc.

The findings were published in the journal Nutrition Research.

In a separate study, low-fat yogurt was found to help lower risk for high blood pressure. That study, involving more than 2,100 adults, was presented at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Research Scientific Session last year.