5 Reasons to Eat Traditional Greek Yogurt vs. Chobani

Stroll by the dairy isle at your local grocery store and you may be bombarded by a colorful array of different Greek or Greek Style yogurts, all claiming to be part of a healthy diet, keep you regular, help you get your calcium, and possibly turn your muffin top into a six-pack within a week.  Ok that last one was fake, but it’s just as ridiculous as many of the other claims.  

What most people think of as “Greek” yogurt is actually just strained yogurt.  The process of straining yogurt eliminates the excess water, liquid whey and lactose (sugar).  This makes the yogurt creamier, less watery, contain more protein and very little sugar.  With that said, here are five reasons why you should get actual plain and whole fat Greek strained yogurt and not the imposters like Chobani.

See the original blog at Shrewsbury Health & Racquet Club 

1. It’s Actually Greek (Strained)

Greek Strained yogurt goes through a triple straining process that by definition will not have much sugar in it, pack a protein punch, contain billions of cultured bacteria, and authentic Greek yogurt is actually plain; it is not conveniently added with “Blueberry flavoring” which is just high fructose corn syrup.  “Greek Style” yogurts are mostly not strained more than once and contain thickening agents like locust bean gum to give them the appearance of real Greek yogurt.¹  Sounds delicious doesn’t it?

2. Beneficial Fat Content

Whole plain Greek strained yogurt contains beneficial saturated fat in the form of butyric acid from the milk and cream, which improves the good gut bacteria in your large intestine for digestive health.  This is very important for vitamin and mineral absorption, energy, and to prevent hypoglycemia two hours later.  Zero percent fat yogurt cannot help with any of those things.²  

3. Gut Bacteria

The cultures used in the production of yogurt naturally break down the sugars in milk and cream, making it a good protein and calcium source for people who are lactose intolerant. Your gut flora (and bowel movement schedule) will thank you.

4. Reduces Effect on Insulin

Insulin has no real plan about how to build anything, nor does it participate directly. Its job—the most critical in any building project—is to transport raw material. Insulin alerts cells to the presence of material and gets them ready to absorb. This goes for everything from blood sugar to cholesterol molecules. 

When you have an energy surplus (full muscle glycogen stores), it’s going to store it as something: triaglycerol (fat).³ Since the typical American diet is full of carbohydrates, it’s likely your muscle glycogen stores are already full, leaving the calories ingested to fill up that muffin top.  The more carbohydrates without fat to blunt the response, the higher your insulin levels can rise. 

Read: in exchange for eliminating extra calories from fat, you’re pretty much ensuring that the rest of the calories show up directly above your waistline.  Good trade?

5. Truth in Marketing

There certainly is something to be said about false claims, cheaper manufacturer techniques that take away from the benefits of the product, and providing something people can appreciate.  Brands like Chobani and Stonyfield offer a false sense of health that many Americans eat up (Chobani is made in Turkey by the way). 

Recommended Greek Yogurts

• Fage Total & Total 2% (I recommend Total because it is more filling)
• The Greek Gods (Traditional Plain)

Read your labels, and don’t believe the hype.  Go for the real greek strained yogurt brands that sell whole fat versions like Fage, and Oikos.  Zero percent fat yogurt means zero percent benefit for you. Don't even think of getting any yogurts with fruit flavoring; just buy some real fruit and throw it in there.

It’s time we started asking the tough questions to manufacturers and stop buying in to marketing junk. 

If you want to find out more about what other foods are fooling you or what to look out for when reading labels, request a free nutrition consultation today!

What are some of your favorite Greek Yogurt Recipies? We would love to hear them so feel free to share them in the comments below!

1) http://chobani.com/core/wp-content/themes/chobani/media_kit/About-Choban...
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23043828
3) Chen YD, Swami S, Skowronski R, Coulston A, Reaven GM. Differences in postprandial lipemia between patients with normal glucose tolerance and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993 Jan;76(1):172-7.