Yogurt It is the quintessential food for people who want to eat healthy in a delicious way. Packed with protein, live cultures and nutrients that support bone health like calciumIt’s no wonder why so many people turn to this food as part of their healthy diet.
But not all yogurts are the same. While we have a wide variety of good-for-you yogurts available, there are also some offerings that aren’t the best choice when it comes to supporting our overall health.
So how does someone successfully navigate the yogurt aisle? According to Melissa Groves Azzaro, RDN, LDregistered dietitian and owner of The hormonal dietitian, people can opt for yogurts that have the least amount of added sugar. “All yogurt has some natural sugar from lactose [naturally found] in milk. But some yogurts may contain more than a day’s worth of added sugars,” according to Azzaro.
“Ideally, yogurt should have less than 5 grams of added sugar per serving and be free of Artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame,” explains registered dietitian Melissa Mitri, MS, RD by Melissa Mitri Nutrition. Artificial colors should also be avoided.
Mitri also suggests that people aim for at least 10 grams of protein per serving of yogurt to help people feel full longer and help meet daily protein needs.
There are plenty of yogurt options out there that tick all the “good choice” boxes. But lurking among the best options for you Live some yogurt options that are not made with the highest quality ingredients. We asked some dietitians which yogurts are made with the lowest quality ingredients, and we’re happy to share the six that topped the list. Keep reading, and for more, do not miss The 20 best yogurts for weight loss, say dieticians.
There is no denying that Noosa yogurt is delicious. But according to Azzaro, this yogurt isn’t made with the best of choices when it comes to ingredients. “Noosa is extremely high in sugar,” he explained. “With 32 grams of total sugar in the vanilla flavor19 grams of that from added sugar, as well as 280 calories, you get a similar amount of sugar and calories as you would in vanilla ice cream.”
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With the words “light” and “fit” in the title, this yogurt It may sound like a healthy option. But according to Mitri, it’s not made with the highest quality ingredients.
This yogurt “only contains 5 grams of protein per serving and several artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame. Plus, because it’s fat-free and low in protein, it’s not too filling.” She explains that when it comes to yogurt, it’s best to go with a fattier version since fat is a macro that promotes satiety.
YoCruch it is sweetened yogurt with candies or other high-sugar ingredients included. Azzaro reminds us that “yogurt containing sweets is not a healthy food, it is a dessert”.
royal blueberries they are a nutritional powerhouse packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. But blueberry-flavored yogurts don’t offer the same benefits.
Azzaro points out that this blueberry yogurt contains Blue Dye #1 and artificial flavors, two ingredients that hardly qualify as “high quality.”
Unlike many other children’s yoghurts that are based on natural colors such as beetroot extract and spirulina to give a fun and colorful tone, this yogurt uses artificial colors like Red 40. One serving contains 11 grams of added sugar and only 3 grams of protein, which is hardly a satisfying snack.
While Greek yogurt is often a better choice when it comes to yogurt selection, the cake topping it is not made with the highest quality ingredients. Between the soybean oil, brown sugar, and cocoa butter, you’d be better off choosing a Greek yogurt that’s free of the extra cake crumbs for your healthy snack. Chobani has plenty of high-quality options, from its “less sugar” product offerings to its plain Greek yogurt, which has 14 grams of protein per container.
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC
Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, book author, and recipe developer who has been in practice for nearly 20 years. Read more about Lauren
