Choosing a Healthy Yogurt
As featured in , Clinical Professor and Chair for the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences听Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, explained that鈥攚hile all yogurts can be nutritious sources of protein, calcium, and probiotic cultures鈥攐verall healthiness depends on ingredients and added sugars. Haar advised choosing yogurts with short ingredient lists, ideally just milk and live cultures, and watching for high amounts of added sugar, especially in flavored varieties. She also highlighted that higher-protein options, like Greek or Icelandic yogurt, can help with satiety, while plant-based yogurts should be fortified with calcium and vitamin D to be nutritionally comparable to their dairy counterparts.
鈥淣o matter what type of milk is used鈥攕kim, low-fat, or whole milk鈥攜ogurt is a very good source of protein and calcium. Bacterial cultures act as probiotics in the small intestine, promoting a healthy gut with a plethora of additional benefits. Other ingredients can vary greatly, though, so checking both the nutrition facts label and the ingredient list is important,鈥� said Haar.