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Is there an imposter among us?
Current nutrition wisdom is to focus on good protein and fats for breakfast rather than sugary cereal bowls and this is where traditional Greek yoghurt steps into our shopping trolley. It’s made by fermenting yoghurt in tanks and then straining liquids during the final steps. The process results in a thicker product with a higher protein content and less sugar. But here's the scoop - not all Greek yoghurt is created in the traditional way, you have to watch out for Greek style yoghurt masquerading as the authentic variety on the supermarket shelves.
What's it worth?
Alright, let's talk about Greek yoghurt. In the UK, the market for Greek and Greek-style yoghurts is pretty big—about £170 million. But here's the thing: only 20% of that is the real stuff. 👀
Let's break this down step by step:
Firstly let’s start with the sugar content…
- Sugar Content:
- Typical Greek-style yoghurt has about 4.6g of sugar per 100g.
- In a 300g bowl, that’s around 3 teaspoons of sugar.
- Authentic Greek yoghurt has only 3.3g of sugar per 100g, a 28% reduction.
- Over a year, this switch can cut your sugar intake by 1.4kg (that’s three bags of sugar).
- Source of Sugar:
- This sugar isn’t added sugar; it’s naturally occurring lactose from the milk.
Now, let's talk about protein—the building block of our bodies.
- Dietary Impact:
- A recent survey suggests 66% of the UK aren’t getting enough protein in their diet.
- More protein helps to fill you up for longer, so you can avoid mid-morning sugary snacks.
- Protein Content:
- Authentic Greek yoghurt boasts over double the protein content of its Greek-style cousins.
- It has 9g of protein per 100g compared to just 4g per 100g in Greek-style yoghurt.
- Daily Intake:
- In a typical 300g bowl, you get 27 grams of protein from authentic Greek yoghurt.
- In comparison, you only get 12g from Greek-style yoghurt.
- That's an extra 15g of protein a day.
Finally, the impact on your wallet..
Cost vs. Benefits:
While authentic Greek yoghurt is pricier than Greek-style, the health benefits are worthy investment, and the price differences aren’t huge, especially considering the nutritional advantage:
Ok, so technically we are talking double the price, but you get what you pay for with double the protein. Think of it this way… per 300g bowl it’s an extra 72p per day for 15g of extra protein. Far cheaper than what you’d pay for a protein bar with the same amount of protein. It’s also worth noting that the branded varieties tend to have the highest protein content at 9g per 100g so in this case I’d be reaching for those over the supermarket varieties.
So, next time you're navigating the dairy aisle, remember that not all yoghurts are created equal. Opting for authentic Greek yoghurt can be a small but effective step towards a healthier diet without breaking the bank.
“My favourite way to eat Greek yoghurt is with grain free, low sugar granola and berries.”
Want to compare prices? Check out the links below 👇
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/258170229
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-natural-greek-style-yogurt-500g
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/256381115
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-greek-yogurt--taste-the-difference-500g
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/311211387
https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/yeo-valley-super-thick-5-natural-yoghurt-850g
@tonichealth Greek vs. Greek style Yoghurt #yoghurt #greek #greekyogurt #protein #health #natural #swap #healthylifestyle ♬ original sound - Tonichealth
