In the past decade, yogurt has achieved many health accolades being praised for its association with gut health, diabetes deterrence, and most recently heart health. Researchers a few years ago found that individuals who regularly consumed probiotics had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

A recently published study in the American Journal of Hypertension added weight to the previous study’s results. Researchers found that among women ages 30 to 55 eating at least 2 cups of yogurt per week was associated with a 30 percent reduction in the risk of a heart attack.

The men showed a smaller yet still acknowledgeable trend of a 19 percent reduced risk of a heart attack when consuming at least 2 cups of yogurt per week.

In a follow-up period, coronary heart disease and stroke risk were reduced nearly 20 percent in individuals who ate 1 cup or more of yogurt per week.

As mentioned earlier, yogurt has already proven its chops in lowering the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Researchers in an earlier study found that a daily serving of yogurt was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of developing the disease.

If you’re welcoming in the new year with a focus on better health, or you have friends at risk for cardiovascular disease, share the good news with them. Yogurt is good for your body and good for your heart.