Gone are the days when yogurts used to be pretty simple and available in unpretentious small containers. Today, the shelves are flooded with overt varieties of Greek yogurts, shakes, and smoothies, spurted into fancy-looking cups and pouches, all set to make you drool. Besides, the ice cream aisles also feature a variety of frozen yogurts and popsicles to choose from.
It is important to mention that some of these yogurts serve as excellent sources of probiotics and offer a range of health benefits, whereas the others only serve as dessert. So, with so many choices, how do you choose the best one?
Before we understand how to select the best probiotic yogurts, let’s discuss some important benefits of eating a yogurt.
Yogurt and your health
Yogurts are made by the bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria which are used for preparing yogurts are called yogurt cultures. These ferment the natural sugar present in milk to produce lactic acid. There are two specific types of bacteria that should be present in order to consider a yogurt healthy – Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus.
Now, we will look at some science-based health benefits of eating the best probiotic yogurts.
- It’s rich in nutrients
Yogurt is a storehouse of nutrients, such as protein, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium as well as some essential fatty acids. All these nutrients are beneficial in maintaining a good health. - It’s high in protein
Yogurt contains an impressive amount of protein, i.e. 10 g/100grams.
Protein improves overall body metabolism by increasing the number of calories you burn throughout the day. Also, it helps in regulating the appetite as it enhances the hormone production that signals fullness. This helps in cutting down on the calories consumed, thus helping you to manage your weight in an effective way. - It improves digestive health
Some of the best probiotic yogurts contain active live cultures that significantly improve digestive health. They reduce the symptoms of IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome and help in improving bloating and stool frequency. Also, they protect against conditions such as constipation and diarrhea. - It strengthens the immune system
Probiotic yogurts are known for reducing inflammation, associated with various health conditions such as viral infections or gut disorders. Also, the presence of nutrients such as selenium, magnesium, and zinc are typically advantageous in improving the strength of the immune system. - It improves the functionality of the heart
Yogurt is beneficial in reducing high blood pressure that is associated with major heart problems. Also, many studies point out that consuming saturated fats from whole-milk products like yogurt increases the “good” cholesterol that protects heart health. This decreases the occurrence of heart conditions in the first place. - It prevents osteoporosis
Yogurt is rich in nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D that help in keeping the bones strong. This prevents osteoporosis, a condition which involves the weakening of the bones.
Yogurt Checklist
Now that you are aware of all the potential benefits of yogurt, let’s get on to discussing how to pick up the best probiotic yogurts from the sea of choices available in the market. In such a case, you should concentrate and filter your product based on 5 essential ingredients.
- Sugar
Pick up a product that contains less than 10 grams of sugar. Most commercial brands contain a generous amount of sugar and added flavors to enhance the taste. Those yogurts are simply a treat and not healthy. - Protein
Yogurts are generally rich in protein. This high amount of protein helps in keeping a person full for protracted hours. Consequently, such yogurts can help in weight management. So, look for yogurts that contain at least 5 grams of protein per cup. Also, you can find some Greek yogurts in the market that contain almost 16 grams of protein per serving. - Live and active cultures
As discussed above, a yogurt can only be regarded official, if it contains the following two cultures- Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. So, check the label before picking up any product.
Some of the brands come with a “Live and Active Cultures” seal. This seal is offered by the National Yogurt Association (NYA) which authenticates the presence of as many as 100 million cultures per gram in the yogurt. - Taste
This is important because if you don’t like its taste, you will not eat it again. So, look for a yogurt that also tastes well besides offering all the nutrition. - Simple ingredients
Go for a yogurt that includes simple and less ingredients. In most cases, this proves to be healthy.
Following aforementioned steps can help you in finding best probiotic yogurts. This might call for a little extra effort, but considering the health benefits it offers, it is definitely worth the effort.
