The Complete Guide To Eating Healthy Yogurt
There’s a scam I want to tell you about today…
And it’s so popular that you’ve probably fallen victim to it time after time. Not only that, it’s so pervasive that TV commercials, supermarkets, and even you yourself may have helped spread it.
I’m talking about the…
The Great Yogurt SWINDLE
Eating yogurt is healthy, right?
People have been eating yogurt for thousands of years. And yes, it is healthy, but only if you eat the RIGHT yogurt.
And today, I’m going to explain why the yogurt you’re eating isn’t just unhealthy – it’s downright dangerous.
That’s because it gives you the illusion of health…
While providing nearly ZERO health benefits.
That’s right. The yogurt you’ve been taught to buy for years may actually be having a negative effect on your overall health.
And it’s all about marketing…
Let’s jump right in and I’ll show you the hidden truth about your “healthy” yogurt… as well as what you can do to make it healthy again!
Sugar, Sugar, and MORE Sugar
Now, I’m not going to give you a full history of yogurt (that would take FOREVER). Instead, I’m going to jump ahead to the 1950s and 1960s when yogurt manufacturers did something that forever changed the course of yogurt…
To be more appealing (and to make more sales), they started adding sweetened fruit to their yogurt products.
Which sounds great! Instead of just the many benefits of yogurt, you also get healthy fruits on top (or on the bottom in this case).
But there’s a problem. And it’s a big one!
It’s the sweetener. Whether it’s sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or just some artificial sweetener, it’s destroying your yogurt.
That’s because the sugar actually fights against the beneficial properties of yogurt bacteria and strengthens harmful gut bacteria like the dreaded candida.
A normal fruit yogurt that you’ll find at the grocery store has a whopping 26 grams of sugar!
For comparison, that’s almost the same amount of sugar by volume that you’d get from drinking a regular Coke!
And I’m not even going to talk about the mile-long list of ingredients.
You see, with a sweeter taste, the yogurt makers assumed that the public would buy and eat more. And they were right.
Now, sweetened yogurt is the norm and healthy yogurt is the exception. You’ve got to dig deep to find a yogurt at the supermarket without added sugar.
And if sugars weren’t bad enough, the marketers had another trick up their sleeve to increase yogurt sales and reduce its healthiness…
Low-Fat, No-Fat, and Reduced-Fat Yogurt
If you’re on a diet and want to drop pounds quickly, then it’s only natural that you’re on the lookout for “healthier” versions of your normal foods.
And your eyes spot labels like LITE, LOW-FAT, and NO-FAT from a mile away.
That’s because the marketers want you to believe that lower fat has something to do with your weight…
Here’s a hint – it doesn’t.
Yep, you read that right. Your fat intake has very little to do with your body weight.
And with yogurt, taking out the fat doesn’t mean you’re reducing calories significantly. But it does mean you’re reducing something else – protein.
Fat and the protein it provides are what give you a full feeling (as well as bone and cardiovascular health) after you eat a cup of yogurt.
So when you go for reduced fat options, what you’re actually doing is eating something that won’t help your diet, won’t give you the protein health benefits, and won’t make you feel satisfied…
Which means you’ll buy and consume more of it – exactly what the marketers want!
And speaking of those marketers, there’s a question I get asked about yogurt often – which brand of yogurt is the best?
Sadly, there’s not a single brand I can recommend. The truth is that they nearly all use the deceitful practices of adding sugar and reducing fat…
Which brings us to another question…
Should You Stop Eating Yogurt?
Now, after reading why yogurt is bad, you’re probably having second thoughts about keeping yogurt on your weekly shopping list.
But I’m here to tell you that it’s not all doom and gloom with yogurt…
And by no means should you stop eating it…
However, it is a good idea to seek out healthy yogurt options, even if they’re few and far between. As I mentioned, nearly every yogurt maker uses dishonest marketing, but they also create some genuinely good products that are usually hidden at your grocery store.
That’s why I created this handy guide to…
How To Find Healthy Yogurt
On your next supermarket visit, I want you to spend a little bit more time in the yogurt section. Don’t worry, it won’t take long and the health benefits you’ll get are worth every second…
And after you’ve done it once, you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Okay, in that sea of yogurt products, it’s time to narrow the vast selection down to the healthy options.
- Don’t worry about brand name – you want to evaluate the yogurts without a bias.
- Eliminate any yogurt that has added fruit or flavorings.
- Eliminate any reduced fat option.
- What should be left are Whole Milk Yogurt products. Look for one that specifically says “Grass-Fed” on the label for more Omega 3s.
- Look at the ingredients list for the phrase “live cultures.” Most will say active cultures, but you want live if at all possible.
- Lastly, healthy yogurt should only have a few ingredients – milk and bacterial cultures. Opt for one without extra added ingredients.
And there you have it!
The best choice – Grass-Fed Whole Milk Plain Yogurt with Live Cultures and the fewest number of ingredients.
There’s likely only a couple yogurts out of more than 100 that fit the bill, but once you’ve identified exactly where they are, it’ll be easier to find them on your next shopping trip.
Now that you’ve got the healthiest yogurt available, there’s only one thing left to do…
Dress Up Your Yogurt With Healthy Additions
You might have noticed that I never said you shouldn’t eat yogurt with fruit. That’s because it’s not true!
Yogurt with fresh fruit is an amazing treat and one I use to satisfy sugar cravings all the time.
Before you leave the grocery store, swing by the produce section for a couple great fruits you can add to everyday yogurt. I prefer berries like blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries, but nearly any fruit works, including apples, melons, and kiwis.
You can also amp up the health factor with a few of these ingredients:
- Chia seeds
- Almonds and/or walnuts
- Raisins for sweetness
- Pumpkin seed oil to give a punch of nutty flavor and even more Omega 3s.
Mix and match different ingredients and I’m sure you’ll find a combination that tastes great, is super healthy, and leaves you feeling completely satisfied.
If you’re looking to buy healthy yogurt for the probiotics, then I suggest you…