Greek Yogurt Benefits

All over the world and particularly, in the United States, there has been a recent upsurge with the popularity of the Greek yogurt. This thick, creamy, delicious and healthy stuff has received a 'thumbs up' from most of the people who have tried it. The similarity of this yogurt with the sour cream is its creamy texture. Typically, this yogurt is manufactured using cow's or sheep's milk. However, the Greek yogurt that is available in the United States, is usually made up of cow's milk. The factor which differentiates the Greek yogurt with the regular one is associated with its manufacturing process. With the regular stuff, it is common to find the runny texture or any liquid on the top. This is however, not a feature of the yogurt we are talking about. After the milk undergoes heating and is cultured, it is kept in muslin ("plain-woven cotton fabric") or cheesecloth bags. This causes a filtration process of the whey of the yogurt. This straining process is what gets rid of the tunny texture I was talking about.

Health Benefits of Greek Yogurt

It is highly unlikely that you come across a regular yogurt brand that has more protein content than the Greek one. In fact, there are several brands of the latter product whose protein content is twice the regular ones. You can obtain about 10-12 g of protein from a low-fat plain yogurt, but with the Greek product, you get a hefty award of an average of 20 grams.

If you weren't aware, by taking this stuff you can cut down on your sodium intake to 50% less than what you get from standard yogurts. Most people tend to have this condition of lactose intolerance. Due to this reason, they are deprived from enjoying the benefits of yogurt. However, for such people, the Greek yogurt happens to be an ideal choice. This is due to the fact that this product is abundant in a class of microorganisms known as probiotics, which make this yogurt easily digestible and gentle to the stomach.

The third point which speaks in the favor of Greek yogurt is about its carbohydrate content. With the number of high carbs-related illnesses on the rise, people have become more conscious about keeping a check on their carb intake. One of the most amazing advantages of the Greek yogurt which have made it popular among the masses is its low profile on carbohydrates. Regular brands comprise a carb quantity of 15-17 g, while this one gets you going with only 9 or even less. This fact also makes it an ideal food choice for people suffering from diabetes.

And to conclude, the Greek yogurt is thicker and creamier than the standard one without the aid of any kind of thickeners. This is because it is treated with a triple straining process.