Greek yogurt is a good source of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus – minerals essential for bone health. Indeed, studies suggest that diets which include foods, like yogurt, may support bone mineral density.
Consuming one to two cups of lowfat Greek yogurt daily can be a healthy addition to your diet without making it difficult to maintain your weight.
Greek Yogurt proves to be a great food to promote weight loss, as it boasts a high protein content while being low in fat, carbs, calories, and sugar. Plus it's rich in probiotics to help with immune and digestive health, providing good bacteria for a healthy gut biome.
Its decadent and rich flavor makes it a great addition to any sweet or savory dish, but it's not perfect. Greek yogurt can actually cause some less than ideal side effects. It contains a natural sugar called lactose and a protein known as whey which can cause inflammatory issues.
Inspect how it looks and smells.
Germs that cause food poisoning don't always cause off-flavors or smells, but if yogurt has a curdled texture or rancid smell, it's best to be safe and throw it out.
Any plain Greek yogurt with no added sugar will still list some sugar on the nutritional label, anywhere between 6 and 12 grams, depending on the brand and size of the container. What that represents is the natural sugar found in milk, called lactose.
Greek yogurt is an excellent source of calcium, which can help improve bone health. It also contains probiotics, which support a healthy bacterial balance in the gut. Eating Greek yogurt may be associated with lower blood pressure and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Because nutritionists urge us to avoid too many sweets, going Greek is a smarter choice. “Greek has a lower amount of sugar (around 5-8 grams, compared to 12 or more grams) than the regular yogurt, while still having the high levels of vitamins and minerals,” Ewoldt says.
2. Greek yogurt. Low-fat Greek yogurt contains twice as much satiating protein as traditional yogurt, which can keep you feeling fuller longer and control appetite. That can translate to less belly fat.
The best time to eat yogurt is in the morning and on an empty stomach. Yogurt is an important component of diet as it is rich in essential minerals and vitamins. The probiotics reach the large intestine the most when yogurt is eaten on an empty stomach, especially during the morning.
So eggs are good, but yoghurt or a whey protein shake is even better. This study supports previous research results which have found that a protein rich, egg based breakfast, which is particularly high in the amino acid leucine, is of particular benefit for weight loss as leucine helps to regulate insulin levels.
“Yogurt is associated with decreased inflammation, decreased insulin resistance and it may prevent type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Hu says. Nutrition researchers believe yogurt's anti-inflammatory power comes from the probiotics it contains, but that has yet to be confirmed with rigorous trials, he says.
According to recent studies, eating a small amount of full fat yogurt or dairy (containing around 4-5% fat content), is still better than eating a larger amount of low fat yogurt or dairy which could contain stabilisers and hidden sugars that mount up the calories.
One option you can't go wrong with is plain yogurt, adds dietitian Erin Coffield, RDN. "First, whether you like low-fat, whole milk, Greek or Icelandic, any plain unflavored yogurt will contain zero added sugar," she says. Greek yogurt and Icelandic yogurts also pack more protein, which promotes fullness and satiety.
"There are really not any risks when you eat Greek yogurt every day limiting it to two servings a day. However, you may not get the benefits if you choose the wrong Greek yogurt," says Elena Paravantes, RDN and creator of OliveTomato.com. "Greek yogurt should only contain milk and or cream and live cultures.