Choosing a Healthy Yogurt

As featured in VeryWell Health, Clinical Professor and Chair for the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Mindy Haar, Ph.D., RDN, explained that—while all yogurts can be nutritious sources of protein, calcium, and probiotic cultures—overall healthiness depends on ingredients and added sugars. Haar advised choosing yogurts with short ingredient lists, ideally just milk and live cultures, and watching for high amounts of added sugar, especially in flavored varieties. She also highlighted that higher-protein options, like Greek or Icelandic yogurt, can help with satiety, while plant-based yogurts should be fortified with calcium and vitamin D to be nutritionally comparable to their dairy counterparts.

“No matter what type of milk is used—skim, low-fat, or whole milk—yogurt is a very good source of protein and calcium. Bacterial cultures act as probiotics in the small intestine, promoting a healthy gut with a plethora of additional benefits. Other ingredients can vary greatly, though, so checking both the nutrition facts label and the ingredient list is important,” said Haar.