Health Benefits Of Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt Benefits

Ever tasted the delicious Greek yogurt? It is no doubt one of the healthiest dairy foods available today. Greek yogurt benefits many people in many ways as it contains not only the probiotics typically found in normal yogurts, but is also loaded with numerous essential nutrients ranging from protein and carbohydrates to iron and zinc. Most importantly, Greek yogurt is very rich in protein while the sugar and sodium content is low, making it one of the several foods that are classified as modern super foods.

Although the name Greek yogurt may have made you thought that it originates from Greek and that is actually not really true. It is in fact originating from several countries in the Mediterranean region but a big renowned company called Fage from Greece, is the company that has made it to the shore of United States with its wide range of yogurts. Since then, the name Greek yogurt was adopted.

Below are some of the major benefits of Greek yogurt.

Protein

Greek yogurt is a rich source of protein. It contains several times more protein than a conventional yogurt. The reason for the richness of this nutrient is actually in part, due to the yogurt straining process that is used during the making of this dairy food. The straining process works to remove the liquid whey whereby most of the water contained is drained away.

Thus, with less water, the concentration of the yogurt naturally increases causing the yogurt to become thick and creamy. This is exactly what makes Greek yogurt so unique in its texture as well as taste. With more yogurt concentration per cup, the protein contained is therefore much higher than a regular yogurt.

Sugar

Greek yogurt is also low in sugar making it a healthy alternative to other sweetened dairy products. Low sugar yogurt is also good for people with diabetes as well as people who are watching their weight.

Because of the straining process that aimed to remove liquid whey, much of the sugar content is also removed along with this process. The amount of sugar contained largely depends on the straining process itself but generally you can expect anywhere between 40 to 50 percent reduction in sugar than regular yogurt.

Even though it contains less sugar, it isn't necessarily that way as yogurt manufacturers tend to add sweeteners and other additives to enhance the flavor of their products. As such, you should read the label before buying and look for these sugars in their hidden form.

Sodium

Not only is Greek yogurt low in sugar, it also contains lower sodium content. Just like the removal of carbohydrates and sugar through the process of straining of the yogurt, some sodium is also being eliminated the same way.

Lower sodium means better for the heart and if you are one who is at risk of cardiovascular problems such as elevated blood pressure or other heart risks, you should love Greek yogurt for this benefits.

All in all, with the many health benefits of Greek yogurt listed above, it is definitely one of the best foods for health. Best of all, with its distinctive taste and its creamy texture, it tastes so good and delicious that you will want to eat it each day!