What’s fresh, creamy, and delicious? Yogurt. It is food packed with beneficial nutrients, such as calcium, protein, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals. It is versatile and can be used in several dishes, such as a salad dressing, a vegetable dip, or an ingredient in smoothies or desserts.
Some yogurts contain live, active bacteria cultures to support a healthy digestive system. As the proteins are easily digested, they are easily consumed and ideal for those with sensitive digestive systems.
Yogurt boosts immunity because it has a high disease resistance. Moreover, it helps in weight loss, a crucial problem for many.
On a trip to the supermarket, we find more than 20 yogurt brands with multiple varieties. The choices are overwhelming: low-fat, nonfat, fruity, plain, Greek, and traditional. Would you like fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat? Soy milk, cow’s milk, goat’s milk, almond milk, or coconut milk? Smoothie, farm style, Greek, Russian, Japanese… Lime or pineapple pie, blueberry or coconut, blend with coffee? There’s everything when it comes to yogurt.
What type of yogurt to buy?
1. Whole milk, low-fat or nonfat? It’s best to choose low-fat or nonfat yogurt. There are many delicious choices.
2. Fruit-flavored or plain? Sugar is a common ingredient in both fruit and flavored yogurt varieties. Avoid sugars by deciding on plain yogurt and adding fruit or flavors like cinnamon and vanilla. When you look at the nutrition label on plain yogurt, you will see that it still states there is sugar, even if none has been added. That’s because even plain yogurt contains lactose, the natural sugar in milk. A good rule of thumb: if a yogurt contains more than 20 grams of sugar per serving, it’s more of a dessert than a healthy snack.
3. Greek yogurt or traditional yogurt? Greek yogurt is thicker, creamier, and smoother than conventional yogurt. It also has twice as much protein as traditional yogurt, but less calcium. Greek yogurt has less lactose than plain yogurt, so lactose-sensitive people may tolerate it better than plain yogurt.
4. Dairy or vegetables? If you choose not to consume dairy, the good news is that there are plenty of plant-based dairy alternatives. Be sure to look for versions fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Fortified soy-based yogurt has the closest nutritional profile to dairy-based yogurt; whole coconut and almond milk varieties are lower in protein.
