Regular Yogurt Is not Bad, But Greek Yogurt Is Healthier: Here’s The Explanation Behind This

Nutrition & Weight LossOctober 20, 2020

Everybody knows that yogurt is healthy for the gut, but what most people don’t know is that the Greek variant is healthier. Not convinced? Here’s everything you need to know about the two kinds:

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is just yogurt without the liquid parts. This is why it has a richer and denser texture than the plain variant.

New Africa/Shutterstock Not all yogurts are created equal

By simply taking out the liquid, the yogurt’s nutritional composition changes. Specifically, Greek yogurt has more protein and less lactose content than the regular one. Riverside University Health System-Medical Center supervising dietitian Monica Chan explained that indeed, Greek yogurt is seen as a better choice because of its composition, density, and how it’s made than typical flavored-yogurts.

Calcium

Greek yogurt packs so many nutrients in just one serving, including calcium, a mineral that is usually found in dairy. It is crucial for teeth and bone strength, and also plays a key role in many bodily functions like the maintenance of healthy blood vessels, nerves, and muscles.

Adults are recommended to consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day while women 50-years-old and above as well as teens need more. A 170-gram Greek yogurt serving boasts 187 mg of the mineral, making it beneficial for daily consumption.

Protein

If Greek yogurt has something to brag about, it’s its protein content. This macronutrient is essential in muscle mass building and is ideal for active people.

Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock Greek yogurt is ideal for people looking to build muscle mass

Moreover, protein prevents overeating because it makes you feel full longer. A 6-ounce serving (170 mg) of plain yogurt has only 9 grams of this nutrient while Greek yogurt has 15 to 20 grams.

As for the recommended daily intake, adults generally need 0.8 grams of protein per kilo – if you weigh 68 kg, you would need around 54 grams of this nutrient.

Vitamin B12

Greek yogurt also has vitamin B12, which prevents anemia, a condition where the body lacks red blood cells to transport oxygen. This is because this nutrient promotes the formation of red blood cells as well as DNA.

A 6-ounce serving of regular yogurt has 1.04 mcg of vitamin B12 while the Greek variant boasts 1.3 mcg. Generally, people over 14 need 2.4 mcg per day.

Probiotics

Yogurts contain bacteria, but the good kind that is necessary for optimal gut function. Also called probiotics, it nourishes the microbiome.

Metamorworks/Shutterstock Yogurt has good bacteria for the gut

However, some yogurts undergo heat treatment, thereby killing active cultures. Look for those that have the Live & Active Cultures seal given by the International Dairy Foods Association to ensure what you’re buying has at least 100 million cultures per gram.