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THE YOGURT HEALTH HALO?NOT ALWAYS DESERVED
Yogurt has long enjoyed a reputation as a champion of healthy eating. Light in calories, packed with calcium, and a great ally for strong bones, this dairy staple gets a glowing review in health magazines across the world.
On top of that, yogurt’s lactic bacteria can make digestion easier, especially when it comes to lactose, according to health experts. Plus, yogurt contains nutrients that may help keep type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and even certain types of cancer at bay. Sounds like a slam dunk for the fridge, right?
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THE DARK SIDE OF “FAT-FREE” YOGURT
Not all yogurts are equally virtuous, though. Nutritionist Rapha?l Gruman, in an interview with Top Sant? (a leading French health magazine), specifically raised concerns about 0% fat yogurts?also marketed as “fat-free” or “non-fat” in the U.S. and UK. While these promise a guilt-free experience by ditching the fat, Gruman points out the not-so-innocent trade-off:
He explained that, even though these yogurts don?t contain fat, they do have added ingredients that aren?t always good for your health. To make up for lost flavor when fat is removed, some manufacturers add sweeteners to their products.
So, that virtuous-looking low-calorie cup might be sneaking in ingredients you’d rather avoid. Because of this, Gruman recommends steering clear of 0% fat yogurts altogether.
WHAT SHOULD YOU PUT IN YOUR CART?
So, what?s a yogurt lover to do? Gruman has some practical, tasty advice. Instead of reaching for artificially sweetened varieties, he advocates for classic natural yogurt or whole milk yogurt?and customizing the taste yourself. If plain yogurt just tastes too bland on its own, there are healthier ways to jazz it up at home.
He said, ?It?s preferable to eat a classic plain or whole yogurt and flavor it yourself. If the taste is too bland, you can mix in other ingredients to make it more enjoyable.?
His tips for boosting flavor while staying healthy?
- Add a spoonful of honey
- Sprinkle in some cinnamon
- Mix in a little bit of jam
- Or, best of all, slice up fresh fruit and add it right into your yogurt for maximum benefit
As he put it: ?The healthiest solution is to chop up some fruit and add it directly to your yogurt.?
FRUIT YOGURTS: A SWEET TRAP
If you love your fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt cups, brace yourself: those can be a sugar bomb in disguise. During his interview, Gruman cautioned yogurt fans to avoid store-bought fruit yogurts, simply because they?re loaded with sugar.
According to this nutrition professional, ?Eating classic natural yogurts or those made with whole milk is preferable, every day. That way, you get all the nutrients from the yogurt and avoid unnecessary weight gain.?
WHAT ABOUT PLANT-BASED YOGURTS?
Gruman also weighed in on plant-based options, like almond milk, coconut milk, and soy-based yogurts. He explained that:
?Yogurts made with coconut or almond milk are healthy and good for your body. Soy-based yogurts too, but they?re a bit less recommended. Soy milk can influence female hormones, specifically estrogen, so it?s best to keep it in moderation.?
This sort of expert insight can help you pick the yogurt that’s just right for your body?one delicious, smart choice at a time!
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