PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The makers of the creamy, savory and sometimes sweet concoctions that many people eat for breakfast can add a new claim to their product's labels.
In a March 1 letter, the FDA said it does not object to the statement that “regular consumption of yogurt may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.”
The Norfolk doctor said the statement was similar to cholesterol health claims printed on cereal boxes. He said yogurt is a healthy option, but with his simple two-word caveat: no sugar.
“[Sweetened yogurt]It doesn't help your diabetes one bit,” said Dr. James Newby. It is one of the properties of yogurt and is an excellent probiotic.
That's what it means, he said, to eat sausage biscuits or pancakes with syrup instead of yogurt. He said yogurt itself doesn't necessarily have any special properties that improve diabetes, but it's just part of a healthy diet, and the yogurt industry may have wanted to use it in advertising.
“I think they criticized the FDA so hard because they saw this issue in 2018,” Newby said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 38 million Americans have the disease and more than 8 million Americans have the disease but are undiagnosed.a A disproportionate number of African Americans and Latinos are affected by this life-threatening disease.
“The most common effects are [of the disease] It’s heart disease and stroke,” Newby said. “These are her two main areas that diabetes affects. It can cause kidney failure and can also lead to blindness.”
Dr. James Newby and his wife, Dr. Olivia Newby, run the Healthy Living Center at a clinic near Norfolk State University's campus. The program is covered by insurance and grants and provides practical nutrition classes for people with chronic illnesses.
