What Can Greek Yogurt Do For Your Health?

What can Greek yogurt do for your health? A lot! Greek yogurt is high in probiotics, protein and vitamins. It makes for such a yummy and quick breakfast. I’m not the most punctual person, so when I can grab something quick in the morning, I’m all about it! I eat this yogurt a lot and never get bored due to its versatility. There are so many ways to change up this breakfast, which I will share below. If you want to learn about the benefits this yogurt can provide, keep reading!

Probiotics Keep Your Gut Healthy

Greek Yogurt is packed full of probiotics and this is my favorite benefit of this food. Probiotics refer to the healthy bacteria our body needs to break down any unwanted toxins. It helps keep our gut healthy and on a regular pooping schedule. Who doesn’t like that? Probiotics also boost your immune system and decrease stomach issues. Without a balance of good bacteria from probiotics, we get a build up of bad bacteria, which hurt our immune system. This yogurt may even be okay for my dairy free folks out there. All the probiotics make it easier for the body to digest. 

Protein Power

My second favorite reason to eat Greek yogurt is the large amount of protein it contains. Your body uses protein in so many ways. It uses protein to build bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, hair and blood. Protein can also reduce appetite, cravings, and blood pressure. The DRI says people should be getting 0.36 grams of protein per pound. So, this is about 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man. 46 grams for the average sedentary women. This yogurt provides 12-17 grams of protein per serving. It’s such a great alternative to thee usual protein choice of meat. 

Vitamins Found Here! 

I’m always looking for foods that are packed full of vitamins/minerals. Greek yogurt has a high amount of calcium, B-12, potassium, and more! Calcium helps us build strong muscle and keeps our vital organs functioning. A lack in calcium can result in stunted growth for children and osteoporosis in adults. One serving of Greek yogurt has 18.7% of the daily recommended for calcium. Any older people that suffer from bone density loss, should seek this as an option. You can get 21% of your daily recommended value of B-12 from Greek yogurt. B-12 aids in formation of red blood cells, brain functions and the synthesis of DNA. Vegetarians can benefit from this greatly, since most meats supply us with B-12. Greek yogurt also has a large amount of potassium, which helps support blood pressure, cardiovascular health, bone strength, and muscle strength. 

The Best Ways to Eat Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt for Dessert?

I have to give a warning that Greek yogurt does contain a high amount of sugar, so eat it in moderation. This amount of sugar though makes for a healthier dessert. Chobani has a wide variety of flavors such as; mixed berry, vanilla, peach, and coffee that all offer an indulgent treat. 

Toppings, Toppings, and More Toppings

The best part about Greek yogurt is that you can use toppings to switch up the taste. I usually keep vanilla or plain Greek yogurt and switch up the toppings. My favorite toppings include… 

• Chia Seeds
• Flax Seeds
• Granola
• Berries
• Bananas 
• Nuts 
• Coconut Flakes 
• Dark Chocolate Chunks
• Honey

Greek Yogurt in Smoothies 

I use Greek yogurt in smoothies to add a little more protein. It also adds a creaminess to the smoothie that is hard to get from anything else, but a yogurt. I use plain or vanilla yogurt for my smoothies. My favorite recipe is 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt, flax seeds, a banana, and a tbsp of peanut butter. Then, I blend all that up in my Kitchen Aid blender.

 

Make sure you get all the health benefits of Greek yogurt soon! My favorite brands are Chobani and Simply Nature. For more wellness tips an tricks, check out my other posts, such as Vitamin C Benefits!