Unbelievable! Renowned doctor warns THIS gut-friendly 'health food' can cause cancer

Gut-friendly foods high in fibre, probiotics and prebiotics help support a healthy gut microbiota, something that can keep your digestion smooth, prevent constipation, and boost overall health. Yoghurt is especially universally considered a gut superfood not only for its probiotic properties but also its rich-nutrient profile. A storehouse of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B2, and vitamin B12, yoghurt is highly recommended as part of a balanced diet.

Dr William Li, the renowned physician who is also an author of New York Times bestseller Eat to Beat Your Diet in his latest Instagram post says that low-fat yoghurt that many wellness enthusiasts prefer are full of chemicals that are used to give the product thicker and fattier appearance. While that could enhance experience, it could trigger gut inflammation that is linked to colon cancer.

According to a study published in Gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease is an important risk factor for the development of colon cancer. Inflammation is also likely to be involved with other forms of sporadic as well as heritable colon cancer.

How 'healthy' yoghurt can turn 'unhealthy'

Dr Li says that while processed yoghurt is full of benefits, by removing its fat and adding emulsifiers and other chemicals to it, can make it ultra-processed, which could increase risk of gut inflammation.

"How do you go from processed Greek Yoghurt to ultra processed? You remove the fat. What happens is when you remove the fat from yoghurt, the whole thing collapses. It doesn't have a mouth feel of yoghurt," explains Dr Li in one of his recent Instagram videos.

"Manufacturers put additives, emulsifiers, etc to build back this thick mouth feel of rich yoghurt. Those emulsifiers carrageenan, polysorbate 80 etc are the additives that we are beginning to realise are not so good for us. Carrageenan that originally comes from seaweed, they synthesize it now. Carrageenan is a vegetarian and vegan alternative to gelatin and is added in its place in some confectionery and other foods including low-fat yoghurts. It has been shown to cause gut inflammation.

While the 'low fat' tag gives an impression of a healthy food, in the case of yoghurt, it can do the opposite, and make it dangerous for your health.

Yoghurt and gut health

Yoghurt is long considered to have a protective effect for gut health. It is beneficial in conditions like lactose intolerance, constipation, diarrheal diseases, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, Helicobacter pylori infection, and allergies, according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

However, emulsifiers added to it can increase gut inflammation. Chronic gut inflammation can raise the risk of cancer by damaging DNA. Researchers at the University of Paris fed mice emulsifiers like polysorbate 80 and found consuming the products regularly led to increased gut inflammation. This could put the body at greater risk for developing colorectal cancers.



Dr Li stresses on the need for checking the ingredients before purchasing a product. Low-fat versions could especially put one at risk of colon cancer as they are more likely to have additives.

Yoghurt, a healthy food, can easily turn into the worst culprit for your health, if you are not careful enough to check the ingredients of your product. Many flavored varieties are packed with added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives. Choosing plain, unsweetened yoghurt and adding your own fresh fruit or nuts is a smarter, healthier option.