Yogurt provides many of the nutrients from milk and contains live cultures and bacteria that create flavour nuances and textures. Furthermore, live cultures in yogurt improve lactose digestion.
Yogurt, skyr, kefir and other types of creamy, sour tasting dairy products or beverages are made from milk that is fermented in various ways. The milk can come from cows, goats or sheep, however, all Arla yogurts are made from natural cow’s milk.
The fermentation happens by adding ‘friendly’ bacteria called live cultures to the milk. This process produces lactic acid that causes the milk proteins to curdle and gives the yogurt its unique flavour and thick, creamy texture. The live cultures in yogurt improve the digestion of lactose, which makes yogurt easier for people with lactose intolerance to digest.
Read more about lactose intolerance - cause and symptoms.
Yogurt has been consumed by humans for centuries in countries all over the world and is a popular dairy product. But is yogurt good for you? Let's take a look at the yogurt nutrition facts and yogurt benefits.
The health benefits of yogurt
The benefits of yogurt lie in the nutrients that are very close to being the same as the nutrients naturally present in milk. Read more about milk's nutrition facts
In addition, yogurt contains live cultures and bacteria that help create the different flavour nuances and various textures of yogurt products. Furthermore, live cultures in yoghurt or fermented milk products improve lactose digestion if you have difficulty digesting lactose.
Yogurt nutrition facts
Yogurt provides nutrients that are among the many nutrients that your body needs. Here are some yogurt nutrition facts:
Protein in yogurt
Like milk, yogurt is rich in protein, which is one of the benefits of yogurt. Protein is good for kids as protein is needed grow and develop their bones. Protein also helps you maintain your bones throughout life as an adult and it helps you maintain and grow your muscle mass.
There are different amounts of protein in different yogurt types and other fermented dairy products. If you want to increase your intake of protein in yogurt, you could try Arla® Skyr or Arla®Protein . Both these products are high in protein with 10g of protein per 100g. A standard yogurt from Arla has 3,5g of protein per 100g.
Calcium in yogurt
Another benefit of yogurt is calcium. Calcium helps you as an adult to maintain normal growth and development of your bones and teeth. Calcium is also good for kids as calcium helps grow and develop their bones.
Phosphorus, iodine and potassium in yogurt
Yogurt contains phosphorus, and if you enjoy a drinking yogurt with the milk nutrients intact, you’ll also get a certain amount of iodine and potassium. Phosphorus helps you maintain bones and teeth and is also needed for the normal growth and development of bone in children. Iodine helps you maintain a normal cognitive function, while potassium helps you maintain of normal blood pressure.
Read more about the health benefits of milk and dairy
Is yogurt fattening?
Yogurt can be made from all types of milk. All Arla dairy-based yogurts are made from natural cow’s milk. Some yogurts are made from whole milk and others are made from skimmed milk, which determines the fat content in the yogurt. If you want to know more about the precise amount of fat or overall calories in your yogurt, check the label on the product you are buying.
If you are very aware of your fat intake, you can choose fat free or low fat yogurts, for example Arla® Skyr, which is fat free.
Is yogurt with sugar bad for you?
Many sweetened yogurts can be high in sugar, and it’s a good idea to look at the label for more information on the sugar level. The total amount of sugars includes lactose, which is a sugar naturally present in milk.
In Arla, we aim to keep the added sugars level low. It is possible to compare the sugar level of different products if you check the ingredients list on the label. Often the sugar level will be mentioned in percentage. Not all flavoured yogurts contain added sugar if they are sweetened with intensive sweeteners. If you want to avoid added sugars and sweeteners completely, you can choose plain natural variants and add taste using fruits or berries.
