What are the Health Benefits of Greek Yogurt vs. Regular Yogurt?

Yogurt is growing in popularity as more people discover the ease of opening a carton and eating this probiotic rich food for breakfast or a mid-morning snack. Not only can you eat yogurt straight from the carton, it can be used as a base to make healthy salad dressings, sauces, smoothies, yogurt based ice creams, and desserts. Versatility never tasted so good! One type of yogurt that’s more recent to the American supermarket, but growing in popularity is Greek yogurt. What are the benefits of Greek yogurt and is it better than standard yogurt?

The Benefits of Greek Yogurt

It’s higher in protein.

If you’re looking for a good source of protein, Greek yogurt wins out over regular yogurt. Most commercial Greek yogurts at supermarkets have almost double the protein content of standard brands such as Dannon. One cup of plain, low-fat convention yogurt has between ten and twelve protein grams, whereas most Greek yogurts average around twenty.

It’s lower in carbohydrates.

For the carb watcher, Greek yogurt is the better choice. Whereas standard yogurts have fifteen to seventeen grams of carbs, Greek yogurt averages around nine with some brands having even less. Greek yogurt is also a better choice for those with diabetes for obvious reasons.

It’s thicker and creamier.

Greek yogurt has a thicker, creamier texture which many people find appealing. Standard yogurt is generally strained two times, whereas Greek yogurt is triply strain to remove more of the whey. When whey is removed, so is water which creates a thicker, more substantial yogurt product. For this reason, thickeners aren’t added to Greek yogurt, yet it still has an appealing texture. Because it’s thicker and creamier, it’s often better than standard yogurt for making dips and sauces.

It’s lower in sodium.

If you’re watching your salt intake, Greek yogurt is the better choice. It often contains as much as fifty percent less sodium than standard yogurts.

The Disadvantages of Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is a good option both from a taste and a health standpoint, although standard yogurt has a few health advantages over its Mediterranean counterpart. Standard yogurt has two to three times the bone building calcium of Greek yogurt. Why During the triple straining process, some of the calcium is removed from Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt can also be higher in fat and calories, but non-fat Greek yogurts are still naturally creamy, meaning you don’t need the full-fat version for great taste and texture.

If you can’t decide which to choose, why not keep them in the refrigerator to enjoy when a craving hits? They’re both a good alternative to high calorie desserts.