Why You Should Always Check The Label Before Buying Yogurt

Aside from being delicious, yogurt offers many impressive health benefits. Most yogurts contain an ample amount of essential nutrients, like calcium, which Healthline reports that eating just 1 cup of yogurt provides 49% of your daily calcium needs. You will also find B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and protein in yogurt. Men's Journal explains that Greek yogurt is especially high in protein and often has twice the amount of regular yogurt. When adding in some other healthy ingredients, like fruit and nuts, it can make for a hearty snack.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, eating yogurt has also been found to support heart health by way of reducing bad cholesterol and maintaining healthy blood pressure. While yogurt is marketed through commercials and advertisements as a super healthy snack for its nutrient and probiotic content, like any other processed food, it does have some drawbacks. Alarmingly, your daily yogurt habit may be sabotaging your diet and health.  

Attempting to choose a healthy yogurt amidst many options can be overwhelming. Although flavor may be the determining factor, that might be the last thing you should consider.

Reading the nutrition label is the best way to find out if a yogurt is healthy or not. HuffPost reports yogurt is a sneaky snack that can ruin your diet, as some are high in sugar and calories. Flavored yogurts, or those with added ingredients like candy pieces, can be significantly higher in calories than plain yogurts, mimicking more of a dessert than a healthy option. When reading the label, make sure to assess the calorie and sugar content, as some yogurts can have a whopping 29 grams of sugar in one serving (via Cooking Light).

"While yogurt is a good-for-you option as an ingredient in parfaits, as a sub for sour cream, or as frozen yogurt, eating certain kinds can lead to elevated blood sugar," registered dietitian Lauren Manaker explains to Eat This, Not That! Too much sugar in your diet can lead to unwanted health effects, like weight gain, and an increased risk of developing chronic medical conditions (via WebMD). Healthline reports that choosing an unflavored option with 7 grams of sugar or less per serving is the healthiest choice.