How to Find the Best Yogurt

Who hasn't walked into a grocery store or health food market, ventured to the dairy case and been in awe of the various choices in yogurt? Deciding on which yogurt to buy can be a daunting task and not all yogurts are created equal when in comes to their beneficial ingredients. Eating the right yogurt The following tips can help clear the confusion and guide you to the best yogurt choices.

1. Find the Right Yogurt by Ingredients
To find the right yogurt you need to start reading the labels. The best yogurt will be one that has nothing but milk and live cultures. When yogurt has fruit, sugar, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners the live cultures are crowded out and you find more empty calories. If you need sweeteners in your yogurt it is best if you add them yourself. Add your own honey, a few drops of vanilla extract or some chopped fruit to sweeten the yogurt.

2. The Right Yogurt Has Live Cultures
The live and active cultures seal (LAC) will appear on the label of the right kind of yogurt. This tells the buyer that the yogurt is not heat treated, a process that kills the good bacteria. Also check the label for a variety of bacteria cultures. The more bacteria cultures in your yogurt the better it is for you.

3. Check the Fat Content in Yogurt
The fat content in yogurt is a personal choice for many people. Some dietary needs require that you choose a whole, low-fat or non-fat variety of yogurt. Check the labels and decide what yogurt fat content is beneficial to your dietary needs.

4. Look for the Protein and Sugar Content
Did you know that most yogurts offer little if any protein? The exception is Greek yogurt which can contain up to 20 grams of protein per serving cup. Many yogurts have a high sugar content, especially flavored yogurts. Avoid any yogurts with 10 grams of sugar or more per serving cup. Choose an original or plain flavored yogurt instead and sweeten it yourself.