Not All Yogurts are Created Equal

Almost everyone between the ages of 8 months and 80 years eats yogurt these days. Grocery stores have shelves of it in flavors ranging from apple turnover to white chocolate strawberry.

Yogurt can be an incredibly nutritious food. It contains calcium, protein, vitamin D and some contain probiotics. Probiotics are "good" bacteria that are similar to what we already have in our intestinal tract. They help prevent the growth of "bad" bacteria and encourage a healthy digestive system. However, some yogurts have so much added sugar and fat that the positives are outweighed by the negatives.

The newest yogurt flying off the shelves is Greek yogurt. It is a thicker and creamier yogurt with a higher protein content because it is strained during production. This reduces its liquid content. It’s the "real deal" when it comes to authentic yogurt. Unfortunately, some American taste buds have to acclimate to its lower sugar content. Good idea to give this a try. Try mixing in unsweetened applesauce or top with fresh fruit or craisins to sweeten it up while you get used to it.

Follow these tips when picking the most nutritious brands:

Watch the sugar. Yogurt contains natural sugar from the milk it is made from. If the sugar is more than 16 grams per 1 cup serving, pick another brand.

It's alive! The National Yogurt Association created a Live & Active Cultures seal to help identify yogurts containing probiotics. Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are the cultures added for our health. Look for yogurts with this seal on the container.

Check for protein. Protein helps keep us feeling fuller longer. So chose a yogurt with at least 6 grams of protein per serving.

Don't let them fool you. Watch out for crunchy mix-ins like chocolate and granola that boost the calories instead of nutrients. Pick another brand.

Best Picks
(Yogurts picked have 120 calories or less, 3 grams fat or less, 1 gram saturated fat or less, 16 grams sugar or less and at least 6 grams protein per serving)

Dannon All Natural Plain Yogurt
Yoplait Delights Chocolate Raspberry
Yoplait Light Black Forest Cake
Chobani Plain 0% Greek Yogurt
Dannon Greek Plain
Fage Total 0% Plain
Fage Total 0% Strawberry Goji
Stoneyfield 0% Organic Greek Yogurt
Yoplait Greek Plain
Siggi’s Orange and Ginger