The 6 Healthiest Greek Yogurts, According to Dietitians
In the last decade, you have no doubt seen the explosion of yogurt options available at the grocery store. While many of the traditional options of years past are still available, Greek yogurt has become a popular variety that's been taking up an increasing amount of shelf space. However, because there are now so many yogurt brands in stores, it's hard to tell which is the healthiest Greek yogurt from a nutritional perspective.
To help you navigate the dairy aisle, we've reviewed the top choices for healthy Greek yogurts and identified the best options you can buy.
Is Greek Yogurt Good For You?
Greek yogurt has gained popularity because of its stellar nutritional composition as well as its unique textural and flavor characteristics.
- High in Protein: Greek yogurt is much higher in protein and has a thicker texture than traditional yogurts. It also happens to have a natural tanginess and is much more tart than the sugary yogurt you may have grown up with.
- Contains Essential Nutrients: Similar to other yogurts, Greek yogurt contains many essential nutrients. This convenient meal and snack food is a source of B vitamins and the antioxidant selenium. It also contains calcium, potassium, and vitamin D.
- Contains Healthy Fats: Greek yogurt, especially the full-fat variety, provides beneficial fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are linked to heart health. Recent studies suggest that dairy-derived saturated fats may not have the same negative impact as other sources, making moderate consumption part of a balanced diet.
How To Choose the Healthiest Greek Yogurt
When navigating the countless Greek yogurt options at the store, things can get tricky—especially because the flavors, toppings, and mix-ins will influence the amount of carbs and sugar. Here is how to narrow down the healthiest Greek yogurt picks.
- Check out the sugar content. While there is some natural sugar in Greek yogurt due to its milk base, added sugar should be limited. Look for fewer than 5 grams of added sugar per serving. The lower, the better.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners. Ingredients like sucralose and aspartame contribute zero calories to your yogurt, but they may be questionable for your health. Options made with monk fruit and stevia provide sweetness without any added calories or sugar and have less questionable research associated with them.
- Look for live cultures. The healthy bacteria in yogurt, also known as probiotics, are referred to as live cultures. Probiotics serve numerous functions in your body and are used to turn milk into yogurt. However, processing practices can kill the bacteria. Look for options with live and active cultures listed to ensure probiotic content.
Read on to learn more about the healthiest Greek yogurt brands, and if you're wondering how these healthy Greek Yogurts taste, check out our taste test!
The 6 Best Greek Yogurt Brands
- Fage Total 5%
- Stonyfield Organic 100% Grassfed Greek Whole Milk Yogurt, Plain
- Two Good Plain
- Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla
- Chobani® Zero Sugar Vanilla
- The Greek Gods Plain Nonfat Yogurt
Fage Total 5%
Calories: 140
Fat: 8 g (Saturated Fat: 5 g)
Sodium: 55 mg
Carbs: 5 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 5 g)
Protein: 14 g
Plain yogurt is a good selection because it does not contain any added sugar or artificial sweeteners. With 14 grams of protein per serving, Fage Total 5% makes for a no-prep protein source that can easily be incorporated into meals and snacks. While lower fat and non-fat options are available, the 5% milkfat option may be more filling as fat has some satiety value. However, if you want to save your fat grams for a nut topping, go with non-fat plain Greek yogurt instead.
Stonyfield Organic 100% Grassfed Greek Whole Milk Yogurt, Plain
Calories: 150
Fat: 6 g (Saturated Fat: 3.5 g)
Sodium: 65 mg
Carbs: 7 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 5 g)
Protein: 16 g
Another whole milk option, Stonyfield Organic 100% Grassfed Greek Whole Milk Yogurt is made using milk from 100% grass-fed cows and is certified USDA organic. This means ingredients in this product have met the strict standards for the growing, processing, and handling of their products. While this doesn't automatically make Greek yogurt a healthy option, it does emphasize natural processes and ingredients. No added sugar and high protein content also make this option an excellent choice.
Two Good Plain
Calories: 90
Fat: 2 g (Saturated Fat: 1 g)
Sodium: 30 mg
Carbs: 3 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 2 g)
Protein: 14 g
With one of the lowest sugar contents on this list, Two Good Plain Greek Lowfat Yogurt makes a great option. This plain variety contains no added sugar and only 2 grams of natural sugar from the milk. If you prefer flavored options, this brand makes several options that are even lower in sugar than some plain Greek yogurt varieties. Fruit purees and stevia leaf provide sweetness in the flavored options without any added sugar.
Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla
Calories: 100
Fat: 0 g (Saturated Fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 65 mg
Carbs: 8 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 6 g)
Protein: 17 g
At 17 grams per serving, Oikos Triple Zero Vanilla provides the most protein on our "best" list. Protein increases your feeling of fullness, helping this option make the list. This option contains stevia as a zero-calorie sweetener, providing sweetness without the sugar. Plus, zero grams of fat makes this a lower-calorie option compared to others. The Triple Zero line of Greek yogurts is made without any added sugar, and contains no artificial sweeteners and 0% fat.
Chobani® Zero Sugar Vanilla
Calories: 70
Fat: 0 g (Saturated Fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 70 mg
Carbs: 6 g (Fiber: <1 g, Sugar: 0 g)
Protein: 13 g
Another non-fat option, the Chobani Zero Sugar line is made with no added sugar and no lactose. This allows for zero grams of sugar in the product. There are many flavors to choose from, many of which are fruit-based, while others will remind you of your favorite treats. Allulose and stevia provide the sweetness in this yogurt, both of which are sugar alternatives. At only 70 calories per serving, this variety still packs 13 grams of protein, making it a good option.
The Greek Gods Plain Nonfat Yogurt
Calories: 100
Fat: 0 g (Saturated Fat: 0 g)
Sodium: 140 mg
Carbs: 14 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 12 g)
Protein: 10 g
Although this option has fewer grams of protein and more carbs than others in the "best" category, The Greek Gods Plain Nonfat Yogurt provides 25% of the daily value of calcium and is known for a less tangy flavor than other plain Greek yogurts. This flavor profile may appeal to more people, and 10 grams of protein per serving is a great amount for a snack and can contribute to a balanced meal.
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