Think yogurt is healthy? These supermarket options may do more harm than good
Which store-bought yogurts you should avoid buying (Photo: Getty Images)
Yogurt has long been considered one of the healthiest foods and is often recommended as the perfect everyday snack. However, supermarket shelves are packed with colorful cups whose contents often have very little in common with real fermented dairy products.
RBC-Ukraine reveals which type of yogurt you should avoid buying.
Read more: This inexpensive dairy product is something everyone should be eating
Which yogurt offers almost no health benefits?
The biggest problem with many popular supermarket yogurts is their high added sugar content.
Sweet fruit layers at the bottom of the cup or thick sugary syrups can turn what seems like a healthy snack into a calorie-packed dessert.
Doctors warn that just one serving of some flavored yogurts may contain an adult's entire recommended daily sugar intake. This can trigger sharp spikes in blood sugar and insulin while contributing to rapid weight gain.
Always check the ingredient list
A proper yogurt should contain only:
- milk
- live bacterial cultures
Warning signs of a poor-quality yogurt
Avoid products containing:
- starch used as a thickener
- gelatin
- artificial colors and flavorings
- preservatives designed to extend shelf life
It's also important to check the expiration date.
A yogurt that can sit on a supermarket shelf for several months has likely undergone intensive heat processing. That process destroys the beneficial probiotics needed to support a healthy gut microbiome.
Why fat-free yogurt isn't always the healthiest choice
Manufacturers often rely on clever marketing.
Labels advertising "0% fat" frequently mean the missing flavor has been replaced with large amounts of sugar or artificial additives.
What's more, calcium from completely fat-free dairy products is absorbed much less efficiently by the body.
Nutrition experts recommend choosing plain yogurt with moderate fat content and no added ingredients.
If you'd like it sweeter, simply add fresh berries, seeds, or a spoonful of natural honey yourself.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
