Yogurt can be a staple in a healthy diet, providing you with a good source of calcium, protein, vitamin D and potassium. Picking any yogurt brand or eating yogurt in excess, however, can contribute to problems such as weight gain
Yogurt can be a staple in a healthy diet, providing you with a good source of calcium, protein, vitamin D and potassium. Picking any yogurt brand or eating yogurt in excess, however, can contribute to problems such as weight gain, high cholesterol and heart disease. The many yogurt brands in your supermarket fall across the nutrition spectrum, from heart-healthy to fatty, sugar-filled products little better for you than candy. Read yogurt labels carefully to choose the healthiest type.
Some brands load their yogurt with sugar. Yogurt naturally contains about 11 grams of sugar per 1-cup serving, but many of the flavored varieties in the grocery store contain twice that amount. Often fruit-flavored yogurt is enhanced not with actual fruit but sugar-laden syrups or concentrates. Not only do these pack on extra calories, but a diet high in sugar also can increase your triglyceride levels. Check labels to be sure, but generally, "light" varieties of yogurt use artificial sweeteners and will have a lower sugar content. Better yet, you can buy plain yogurt and sweeten it yourself with fresh fruit or a small amount of honey or table sugar.
Saturated fat raises your low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol levels, puts you at a higher risk of heart disease and might put you at a higher