Improve heart health

The fat content of yogurt is one of the reasons that the health benefits of yogurt are often controversial. Yogurt contains mostly saturated fat, along with small amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fat was previously thought to cause heart disease, but current research shows this is not entirely true. However, fat-free and low-fat yogurts are still recommended and popular in the US.

There is no clear evidence that the fat in yogurt is harmful to the health of consumers. In fact, it may even benefit heart health. Some studies show that getting saturated fat from whole milk products increases good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), which may protect heart health. Other studies have found that eating yogurt reduces the overall incidence of heart disease. What's more, dairy products like yogurt have been shown to help reduce high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease. These effects seem to be most prominent in people already diagnosed with high blood pressure.