Yogurt: Gut Health Superfood or Just Clever Marketing?

04/14/25 • 27 min

The Eat This Podcast with Dr. Alan Desmond

Yogurt is a multi-billion dollar industry - and is heavily advertised as a gut microbiome-boosting super food. But what does the scientific literature actually tell us about yogurt and gut health?

The History of Yogurt: How yogurt became a Western staple, moving from niche food to health product.
What Science Actually Says About Yogurt: Why those ‘live probiotic cultures’ never reach your microbiome.
Is Kefir Truly a Superior Option for Gut Health?
Plant-Based Alternatives: Can non-dairy options like soy yogurt offer better health benefits?
Environmental Impact: Comparing the carbon footprint of dairy yogurt versus plant-based alternatives.
Final Verdict: Is yogurt really essential for better gut health, or is it all just clever marketing?

I hope this episode helps you look beyond the advertising and make evidence-based choices that genuinely safeguard your digestive health.

Links to some of the key papers mentioned in today’s episode:

Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome.

Effects of Regular Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled Study

Is consuming yoghurt associated with weight management outcomes? Results from a systematic review

The Effects of Kefir and Kefir Components on Immune and Metabolic Physiology in Pre-Clinical Studies: A Narrative Review

A comparison of the nutritional profile and nutrient density of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts in the United State

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Yogurt is a multi-billion dollar industry - and is heavily advertised as a gut microbiome-boosting super food. But what does the scientific literature actually tell us about yogurt and gut health?

The History of Yogurt: How yogurt became a Western staple, moving from niche food to health product.
What Science Actually Says About Yogurt: Why those ‘live probiotic cultures’ never reach your microbiome.
Is Kefir Truly a Superior Option for Gut Health?
Plant-Based Alternatives: Can non-dairy options like soy yogurt offer better health benefits?
Environmental Impact: Comparing the carbon footprint of dairy yogurt versus plant-based alternatives.
Final Verdict: Is yogurt really essential for better gut health, or is it all just clever marketing?

I hope this episode helps you look beyond the advertising and make evidence-based choices that genuinely safeguard your digestive health.

Links to some of the key papers mentioned in today’s episode:

Long-term dietary patterns are associated with pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory features of the gut microbiome.

Effects of Regular Kefir Consumption on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome: A Parallel-Group, Randomized, Controlled Study

Is consuming yoghurt associated with weight management outcomes? Results from a systematic review

The Effects of Kefir and Kefir Components on Immune and Metabolic Physiology in Pre-Clinical Studies: A Narrative Review

A comparison of the nutritional profile and nutrient density of commercially available plant-based and dairy yogurts in the United State

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