The 15 Best Probiotic Yogurt Brands For Better Gut Health
While we may not think of bacteria as being healthy for our bodies, probiotics are essential in a balanced diet.
And though there are plenty of ways to include probiotics in our meals, yogurt is probably the easiest way. In addition to being good for you, probiotic yogurt is delicious and is an ideal breakfast to eat on the go.
Lifeway Real Fruit Kefir
Generally speaking, kefir is an excellent source of probiotics and bone-strengthening calcium, Koszyk tells us. Lifeways Real Fruit Kefir is no such exception. The product contains 12 different probiotic strains and a high dose, toomore than 10 billion, says Koszyk. Bonus: Since kefir has fewer milk sugars than regular milk, many people who do not tolerate milk well can sip kefir without an issue.
The Bottom Line:This product is a good source of probiotics to improve gut health, says Koszyk. In regards to weight management, always try to remember: Calories in drinks count! You still need to stay mindful of how much you are consuming daily. Use the kefir as a high-protein snack or part of a meal.
Recommended Reading: Salad Gives Me Diarrhoea
Best No Fat Greek Yogurt Organic Meadow
- Per serving : 120 calories, 0 g fat , 85 mg sodium, 6 g carbs, 1 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 18 g protein
- Probiotic strains: 1 Billion+ Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus
Organic meadows nonfat plain Greek yogurt contains only 2 ingredients- organic skim milk, and active bacterial cultures.
It provides more than 1 billion live probiotic cultures per serving, is an excellent source of calcium, and is high in protein. Since it is plain, it is very low in sugar, making it a very healthy option for breakfast or a snack.
Recommended Reading: Best Probiotic Supplement For Ibs D
What Are The Key Things I Should Consider When Choosingprobiotic Yogurt In The Store
The three main things to consider when choosing probioticyogurt are:
- Whether there are live active cultures.When it comes to getting probiotics from yogurt, this is the firstthing you should look for. If there are significant enough levels ofprobiotics in a yogurt, the container will most often indicate it onthe label.
- Which probiotics are present. The morecultures that are listed, the more variants of probiotics arepresent in the yogurt. Since each probiotic is linked to its own setof potential health benefits, receiving a mix of various probioticsmay provide added benefits. Alternatively, if youre looking toreceive a specific health benefit from probiotics, choose yogurtsthat have the bacteria that are associated with that particularhealth benefit.
- Sugar content. Many yogurts will have addedsugars to offset the products tartness. While a small amount ofsugar can help make the taste of yogurt more pleasant andtherefore make it easier for us to eat this healthy food we shouldlimit added sugars to less than 10% of our total daily calories.
Choosing yogurts with lower levels of sugar, such as plainyogurts, or yogurts that are sweetened naturally with fruit are greatoptions. Another way to better control sugar intake when it comes toyogurt is to buy plain-flavored yogurts and add your own sweetenerfrom sources like honey or fresh fruit.
Best Lactose Free Igo Probio Immuni
- Per serving : 80 calories, 2.5 g fat , 50 mg sodium, 12 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 10 g sugar, 3 g protein
- Probiotic strains: 1 Billion+ BB-12® Bidobacterium Lactis
This yogurt has no preservatives, no artificial colours or flavours, and is gluten-free. It contains more than 1 billion active probiotic cultures per 100 gram serving and comes in 4 flavours- strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and vanilla.
It contains zero lactose, making it a great option for people with sensitivities or allergies, however it is important to keep in mind that since it is flavoured, it has a higher sugar content than other plain options.
Also Check: Garden Of Life Prebiotics And Probiotics
Benefit No : Yogurt With Active Cultures May Discourage Vaginal Infections
Candida or yeastvaginal infections are a common problem for women with diabetes. In a small study, seven diabetic women with chronic candidal vaginitis consumed 6 ounces of frozen aspartame-sweetened yogurt per day .
Even though most of the women had poor blood sugar control throughout the study, the vaginal pH of the group eating yogurt with active cultures dropped from 6.0 to 4.0 . These women also reported a decrease in candida infections. The women eating the yogurt without active cultures remained at pH 6.0.
You May Like: Can Align Probiotic Cause Nausea
May Protect Heart Health
Yogurt may improve heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Fermented dairy intake is associated with a lower risk of plaque buildup and artery stiffness, which are linked to high blood pressure .
A study in 73,882 adults with high blood pressure determined that eating 2 or more servings of yogurt per week were associated with a 21% lower risk of stroke in men and 17% in women, compared with those who ate less than 1 serving per month .
Similarly, in a study in 1,981 healthy men, those with higher intakes of fermented dairy products had a 27% lower risk of heart disease than those with lower intakes. The study also found that non-fermented dairy was associated with a greater risk (
You May Like: Probulin Colon Support Probiotic Reviews
Which Yogurt Is A Better Choice
Yogurt is an excellent source of nutrients including protein, calcium and B vitamins. What you choose to buy is a matter of personal preference.
If you like thick and creamy yogurt or are trying to increase your protein intake, choose a Greek yogurt that contains more protein. Check the label to be sure you are getting what you expect.
If you are trying to increase your calcium intake, choose yogurts that provide at least 15% of the Daily Value of calcium per serving.
Read Also: Best Over The Counter Probiotic For Ibs
Stonyfield Organic Whole Milk Probiotic Yogurt
Per 1 cup, vanilla: 200 calories, 8 g fat , 22 g sugar , 7 g protein
This USDA-certified organic yogurt contains live and active cultures, including S. thermophilus, L. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium BB-12, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei and L. rhamnosus. It’s also 99 percent lactose-free. Just watch for sugar in the flavored varieties.
Buy it: Price: $4.39
You May Like: Garden Of Life Probiotics 80 Billion Reviews
Does Greek Yogurt Have Live Cultures
We sampled a few major brands to determine if they had live and active cultures. All the brands listed below did contain active, live cultures. The bacteria were listed where available. The potential benefits of these live cultures include gastrointestinal health, alleviating lactose tolerance symptoms, improved colon health, improved immune system health, protection against pathogens, and a decrease in yeast infections. There are several other benefits, but the key benefits have been listed.
Typically, if a product is labeled as yogurt, it has live and active cultures. However, it is always best to read the labels to verify the yogurt you choose has these beneficial live cultures. The health benefits of the live and active cultures are so great that it would be foolish for most people not to check their brand for these cultures before buying. In our mind, any product that does not contain live and active cultures is not really yogurt.
Sample of Greek yogurt brands for live and active cultures:
Fage live active cultures .
Yoplait Greek live active cultures
Stonyfield Organic live active cultures
DanonOikos Greek active yogurt cultures
Brown Cow Greek live active cultures
Chobani live active cultures For visual proof, see the cool video below showing the live organisms in yogurt.
Dont Miss: Allergic To Lettuce Diarrhea
What Is The Best Low Fat Greek Yogurt
Mina Khan makes a case for FAGE whose low fat product also contains less sugar.
The best low fat greek yogurt option is one thats also low in sugar. A typical adult should limit their sugar intake to no more than approximately 30g a day, and as youll see, brands such as FAGEs fat free greek yogurt contains just 3g of sugar per serving making this a great choice for those wanting to watch their weight.
We also found French brand Danone offered one of the best low fat greek yogurts on the market. Danones Light and Free Passion Fruit Yogurt boasts a low calorie, low fat and low salt content. Its also handily sold as a four-pack giving you a daily optimum serving size.
- Cal: 52 kCal per 115g serving
- Fat: 0.1g
Dont Miss: Natures Way 100 Billion Probiotic
Also Check: Align Vs Phillips Colon Health Probiotics
Is Greek Yogurt Keto: The Bottomline
Full-fat Greek yogurt can play a role in a well-formulated keto diet. However, even full-fat Greek yogurt is moderately high in carbs.
For people just starting out on the keto diet a single cup serving of Greek yogurt can account for around 50% of your daily carb intake. But if youve been on keto for a while, its carb content likely wont be a major concern.
Whether enjoyed on occasion or regularly on a keto diet, Greek yogurt offers beneficial probiotics, healthy fats, and quality proteins.
So is Greek Yogurt Keto? Yes, butread the above.
Search by Keyword
Recommended Reading: What To Give A 5 Month Old For Constipation
Hazards Of Feeding Dogs Yogurt
Again, although yogurt is not toxic, your dog might have trouble digesting it. Dogs bodies are not designed to digest lactose after puppyhood, and, therefore, a food high in lactose can cause gas, diarrhea, and vomiting. If your dog displays any of these reactions, be sure to check in with your veterinarian.As with any dairy product, dog owners also have to be concerned with the fat content. Any time you give a dog too much fat in his diet, he can suffer from stomach upset, or even pancreatitis, a serious and potentially fatal illness.
Always make sure the yogurt contains no xylitol, an artificial sweetener, which is toxic to dogs.
As with all treats, feed your dog a small amount and see how he reacts. If he doesnt have any of the above symptoms, its fine to feed him this treat once in a while.
Don’t Miss: How To Buy Probiotics Supplements
Noosa Does Fage 0 Have Probiotics
Siggis, an Icelandic style of yogurt called skyr, is creamier and thicker than Greek yogurt, says dietitian Leigh Tracy, RD. Its also low in added sugar and contains live active bacteria to help promote gut health.
Per serving: 130 energy, 4.5 g fats , 11 g carbs, 60 mg sodium, 0 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 12 g protein
Strawberry Yogurt Yoplait goal.com SHOP NOW
Do All Yoghurts Have Probiotics
All yoghurt contains live bacterial cultures, which ferment milk to make yoghurt, but only some types of yoghurt have added probiotics .
The addition of live bacterial cultures to milk results in fermentation, where the lactose in milk is converted to lactic acid which sets the yoghurt. Traditional bacterial strains used to make yoghurt are Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies bulgaricus.
In addition to these âstarter culturesâ, some yoghurts also contain added probiotics the most common species being Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. When consumed in adequate amounts, probiotics have been shown to provide a benefit to overall health.
Probiotic dosages are measured in CFUs . To make sure youâre consuming enough probiotic, go for a yoghurt that contains at least 108 CFU per serve.1
Specific strains of probiotics, such as the well researched Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG , have shown positive health effects in the digestive system, particularly on lactose intolerance, immunity, allergies and inflammatory bowel disease.2,3,4 Health benefits of probiotics are unique to the specific strain, so when youâre choosing a yoghurt with added probiotics look at the type of probiotic strain listed on the food label and speak to an Accredited Practising Dietitian for individual advice.
For information about the digestive benefits of yoghurt and other dairy foods visit this page
References
Read Also: Is Cottage Cheese Considered A Probiotic
Is Greek Yogurt Better Than Regular Yogurt
Regular and Greek yogurt are made from the same ingredients but differ in nutrients. While regular yogurt tends to have fewer calories and more calcium, Greek yogurt has more protein and less sugar and a much thicker consistency. Both types pack probiotics and support digestion, weight loss, and heart health.
Which Yogurt Has The Best Probiotics
Weve covered this in passing already, but the best probiotic yogurt is without a doubt the type which has the active or live culture seal or wording on the packaging.
Anything less than this and youre not going to be getting much in the way of probiotic content, if any at all.
Youll find yogurts come in all different shapes, sizes, flavours and varieties, and this can make purchasing the right one for you quite difficult.
Many people wonder about whether Greek yogurt is a good source of probiotics, and the answer really varies according to the brand.
Greek yogurt is strained three times, as opposed to twice in the regular processing procedure.
This is what gives Greek yogurt that iconic thick and creamy feel, but you lose out on some of the whey in this process, which means it has a lower calcium amount than regular yogurt.
In terms of probiotics, this varies from brand to brand, and you should check on the packaging as to whether any live or active cultures are present or have been added, to ensure youre getting a good probiotic hit.
Overall, traditional yogurt is probably the best route, but lets check out some of the other options you might have before you.
Read Also: Does Frozen Yogurt Have Probiotics
The Probiotic Strain Game
U.S. guidelines state that yogurt must contain at least two specific strains, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, although manufacturers can add more. Its easy to assume that all yogurt is the same, but thats not the case at all, Ansel says.
Only three familiesLactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcushave been widely researched, and the data suggests they may improve immune and digestive health and protect against yeast infections in women. In fact, these are the kinds nutritionists trust most. But probiotic yogurt brands vary in other ways, from the number of strains they contain to the amounts in each serving.
Old Chatham Sheeps Milk Plain Yogurt
Per 2/3 cup, plain: 150 calories, 10 g fat , 6 g sugar, 8 g protein
“Sheep’s milk may be easier to digest than regular cow’s milk and still contains ample amounts of protein and probiotics,” Middleberg says.
The digestibility of sheep’s milk is up for debate: A small May 2020 study in Current Developments in Nutrition compared digestive side effects of cow and sheep’s milk and symptoms and didn’t find a difference. That said, you may find that sheep’s milk is easier on your own digestive system.
Buy it: Price: $6.29
Also Check: Bigelow Lemon Ginger Herb Plus Probiotics Tea Benefits
Benefits Of Yogurt With Lactobacillus
The genus Lactobacillus is one of the most common bacteria classified as a probiotic, according to Harvard Health Publications. Probiotics promote the growth of “good” bacteria through fermented foods like yogurt and over-the-counter supplements.
And when good bacteria or live cultures are present, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says their presence may change or repopulate intestinal bacteria to balance gut flora. Which is great news since this also creates an environment not suitable for harmful bacteria. Basically, what all of this means is that probiotics may have a positive impact on your overall health, especially gastrointestinal health.
More specifically, the Academy points to the role probiotics play in managing the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health points out that probiotics show promise in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and induction or maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.
However, the NCCIH does stress that in general, researchers still don’t know which probiotics are helpful and which are not. Plus, it’s still not known how much you would need to take in a supplement or consume from foods in order to get the most health benefits. But the good news is, probiotics are safe, particularly in healthy people.
Read more: Yogurt Brands Containing Probiotics
What Is The Best Probiotic Drink
Here, the best probiotic drinks:
- Best Overall: GTs Organic Kombucha Gingerade.
- Best Budget: KeVita Sparkling Probiotic Drink.
- Best Dairy-Free: Califia Farms Strawberry Probiotic Drinkable Yogurt.
- Best Drinkable Yogurt: Siggis Swedish Style Non-Fat Drinkable Yogurt.
- Best Kefir: LifeWay Organic Low Fat Kefir.
Read Also: Do Probiotics Help With Menopause
Is Whole Milk Yogurt The Same As Greek Yogurt
Probiotics are essentially live organisms which when consumed in sufficient quantity offer health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. Probiotics are healthy bacteria that we can get through the food we consume. Getting a variety of probiotics regularly can help to balance the microflora in your gut, which can have several advantages such as supporting digestion and promoting overall good health.
According to the WHO , probiotic means for life.
Today, there are so many foods containing probiotics that you can choose from options such as miso, kombucha, tempeh, or kefir. Yogurt is one of the best sources of probiotics because it is made with milk that is fermented with live bacteria. Not only is yogurt an excellent source of probiotics, but it is also high in vitamins, minerals, and protein.
However, not all types of probiotic yogurt are the same and the benefits you get from the yogurt depends on the types of probiotics it contains and the amount.
At present, there are so many brands of yogurt available on the market that it is quite difficult to determine which yogurt has the most probiotics. While buying yogurt, check the labels of the yogurt brands that specify live and active cultures to ensure that it is a good source of probiotics. It is also very important to check the amount of added sugar in the yogurt because sugar can be harmful to your guts health.
