The composition of yogurt and its calorie content
Yogurt is a great option for a snack or dessert. But will we benefit from it? In this article, we will consider all the advantages and disadvantages of this fermented milk product, and also reveal the secret of its calorie content.
Compound
Yogurt is a dairy product that contains milk and sourdough. There is an unimaginable variety of types of this product. As they say, yogurt is different from yogurt, because they can differ in composition, percentage of fats, calories, and taste. Moreover, some of them are good for health, while others, on the contrary, bring only harm. Let's analyze this type of fermented milk products and figure out which yogurts should be consumed and which ones should be urgently excluded from your own diet.
- Vitamin. Yogurt is rich in vitamins. It mainly contains vitamins of group B (thiamine, cobalamin and riboflavin) and D. Vitamins A and C are also present in the natural fermented milk product.
- Mineral. Minerals that are beneficial to our body are also found in yogurt. Among them are calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, phosphorus and others.
- Chemical. The chemical composition of a dairy product is the content of protein, fats, carbohydrates (BJU) and amino acids in it. Each yogurt has a different ratio of chemicals. And why it depends, we will consider later.
The benefits and harms of yogurt
It is interesting to note that for the first time this product appeared in Bulgaria, therefore, up to the present day, the composition of yogurts in this country is subject to comprehensive control, which simply does not allow low-quality products to enter stores. Some dairy products, which in our country are considered natural yogurt, would simply be disposed of in Bulgaria.
By the way, just a century ago, in the 20th century, yogurt was not available everywhere and not for everyone. It could only be bought at a pharmacy and in small quantities. But over time and with the acquisition of increasing demand, the production of this product has increased, and now everyone can afford to buy a jar or bottle of yogurt in absolutely any grocery supermarket. But should this be done, or is it better to refrain from using such an opportunity?
Nowadays, most people include yogurt in their daily diet. Some do it for reasons of benefit for digestion, others just like the taste of the product.
Benefit
Nowadays, neither doctors, nor nutritionists, nor scientists can give an unambiguous answer to the question of whether such a fermented milk product as yogurt is useful or harmful.
Consider first what is considered to be its useful qualities:
- beneficial effect on the digestive system;
- considered an effective antidote against fungal infections;
- saturated with calcium;
- reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood;
- improves immunity;
- promotes better absorption of food, if consumed after it is taken.
Naturally, the benefit is achieved only if used regularly and only proven products without the content of harmful chemical elements, flavor enhancers and dyes.The most useful will be homemade natural yogurt with good milk and sourdough.
Harm
The negative consequences of drinking yogurt are due to the presence in its composition of a huge number of chemical elements that are harmful to our body. The situation is aggravated by the fact that we may not even be aware of their content in the product. The fact is that in the vast majority of cases, what is written on the label does not coincide with reality. For example, beneficial bacteria and probiotics, declared on almost all labels, are actually present only in dairy products, the name of which contains the prefixes “bifido-” or “lacto-” (for example, bifidok). They do not contain any additives, flavor enhancers, or other harmful chemicals.
Preservatives are another pest of our body. Real dairy products can be stored for three to five days. If the shelf life is more than 14 days, then in such a product there is not even a third of the useful substances indicated on the package.
In addition, even if you carefully studied the composition and did not find anything in it that could inspire doubts, do not rush to rejoice. The fact is that often incomplete information is indicated on the label.
Let's take an example. Suppose the package says that milk is present in the composition. Good. Only we cannot know what kind of milk it is: skimmed, soy or dry. The same goes for fragrances. We don't know what we eat.
Sugar in yogurt is another enemy of our body. By the way, not only the body, but also the figure.
The nutritional value
Taste is not the only characteristic that distinguishes these fermented milk products from each other.
A very important criterion when choosing yogurt from the entire variety of assortment should be the percentage of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.
Consider the content of BJU from the most popular manufacturers:
- "Sloboda" 2% fat contains: protein - 2.7 g, fat - 2 g and carbohydrates - 13.5 g. At the same time, its nutritional value is 82 calories. The composition of this product contains skimmed milk powder, sourdough, fruit filler, sugar and cream. The label also states that the product is non-GMO.
- One of the most famous manufacturers is the brand "Activia". Under this name, yogurts of various fat content, flavors and textures are produced. The greatest demand is for "Activia" with 3.5% fat content. Here, per 100 g contains: kcal - 70, protein - 3.5 g, carbohydrates - 4.7 g. Skim milk, sourdough and bifidobacteria are declared in the composition.
- "Danone" fat content 2.9%. B/W/U: 3.2/2.5/4.6. Energy value 54 kcal.
- "Epic" - one of the most high-calorie and fatty dairy products: 120 calories with 4.8% fat content. In terms of nutritional value, "Epike" is not inferior to such a manufacturer as "Danissimo": 145 calories with 5% fat and 18.5 g of carbohydrates. This snack is not recommended for those who are on a diet.
calories
Yoghurts differ among themselves not only in taste, useful properties and consistency, which directly depends on their fat content. They are also different in calorie content, which is directly affected by the composition. The more additives in it in the form of sugar, fruits, etc., the higher the calorie content. The lowest is for natural yogurt, which is made from milk and sourdough without adding any ingredients.
Each yogurt has a different number of calories per 100 grams. This difference is explained by the percentage of fat content and the content of sugar or fruit in the composition. Zero-fat yogurt is considered the lowest calorie (only about 45-55 kcal).As the fat content of the product increases, the number of kilocalories also increases. So, in yogurt with 1.5% fat, about 60-65 kcal, and with 2.5% - from 65 to 70.
Options with additives in the form of fruits, berries and sugar significantly increase the calorie content of this dairy product. For example, in strawberry yogurt, it reaches 90 and even 110 kcal.
Natural white yogurt without additives is by far the healthiest snack option. However, it will not be to everyone's taste. But in order to benefit your body and get enough, it is not at all necessary to use it empty.
Natural yogurt is a great addition to cottage cheese: mix these two ingredients and you have a delicious and nutritious breakfast. You can also eat it with cereal. Very often, natural yogurt is used as a dressing for vegetable or fruit salads.
Is it possible to lose weight?
Surely you have heard and know more than once that yogurt is often used during diets and fasting days. As a rule, to lose a couple of extra pounds, you just need to replace your usual dinner with a jar of one or two percent yogurt. Thus, you will reduce the total number of calories consumed per day, which will positively affect your figure. Only there is one thing: dinner should be 2-3 hours before bedtime! Eating yogurt at night, you risk not only staying at the same weight, but also gaining a few pounds plus.
You don't have to eat empty yogurt to lose weight. You can mix it with any fruit, except for bananas and grapes, as they contain a lot of sugar, which is absolutely not compatible with the idea of losing weight. In addition to fruits, you can also add cereals or dried fruits, just do not forget about their high calorie content and limit yourself to a small amount.
Fasting days on yogurt will help to slightly lose weight and get in shape. Naturally, this should not be a one-time action, but a whole system. It is recommended to unload once every 5-7 days.
During such a day, it is allowed to consume about 500 grams of natural yogurt, preferably without any additives. In addition to the dropped kilograms, such a fasting day will have a lot of positive effects on your body and body:
- cleansing the body of toxins and other harmful substances;
- removal of excess fluid;
- improvement of the gastrointestinal tract;
- reduction of edema;
- skin color acquires a beautiful healthy appearance;
- sleep becomes stronger and more restful.
If the goal is not 1-2 kg, but more, then you can think about the yogurt diet. It will not only help you lose the hated kilograms, but also improve digestion. On such a diet, vegetables, fish and fruits are included in the diet. It is also highly recommended to drink green tea. It removes toxins, improves the tone of the body and has a fat burning effect.
By the way, it is worth noting that with a diet and fasting days, the use of dairy products is allowed no more than 1.5-2% fat.
However, even if everything is just fine with your figure, and you don’t need to lose weight at all, by including yogurt in your daily diet, you definitely won’t regret it. Microorganisms and beneficial substances contained in it (we are talking about natural and only high-quality products) will help you maintain youth, increase immunity, strengthen hair, teeth and nails, as well as improve mood and energize for the whole day.
Reviews
It's no secret that manufacturers very often tend to reduce production costs. This is quite a healthy interest, because they need a profit.But in some cases, this can negatively affect the health of our body. Therefore, when choosing products, carefully study the composition.
To find out which options to give preference to, we will analyze the reviews of angry or, on the contrary, satisfied consumers.
Quite positive reviews are received by products manufactured under such brands as: Danissimo, Activia, Miracle, Danone and Epica.
The novelty "Activia" thermostatic has received special recognition. Fans of yoghurt breakfasts note its nutritional properties. It is not only tasty, but also very satisfying. But as a dinner, this is not the best option.
"Danissimo" and Epica conquered their consumers with taste. A wide range of choices, among which it is simply impossible not to find something to your liking - that's why they are so loved. However, for weight loss, the products of these brands are not suitable because of their high fat content (about 4.5 - 5%).
"Miracle" and "Danone" will delight lovers of something very tasty, as well as those who always strive to become even slimmer. The line of these brands has all the options, as they say, "for every taste and color": from 1% natural yogurt to 5.5% curd mousse with chocolate.
So, to eat or not to eat - that is the question. We have listed all the pros and cons, the benefits and harms of this product, and the choice, of course, is yours!
For information on which yogurt is healthier, see the next video.