The Skinny on Greek Yogurt

Within the last year, a great new product has been hitting the shelves in our everyday grocery stores that most people had never heard of before. Greek yogurt. Celebrities were blogging about it, there were commercials on TV, and our foodie friends adventurous enough to pick it up were raving about it in days. Naturally, many people are wondering, what is Greek yogurt, is Greek yogurt healthier than regular yogurt, what are the benefits of Greek yogurt, and what are the best brands of Greek yogurt? This overview of Greek yogurt will attempt to answer all of those questions and more, to introduce you well to this fabulous new dairy product.

Greek yogurt is a type of yogurt developed in Greece that is particularly thick and creamy. It is processed with extra steps, such as straining, to eliminate the water content that often leaves regular yogurt thin and runny. Because of the removal of the more watery yogurt, Greek yogurt is sweeter than regular yogurt and lacks the bitter flavor that is often inherent in the regular yogurt brands.

There are many ways to serve Greek yogurt. It is now available in serving size containers with fruit and other toppings. You can also serve it like flan, in a molded shape with fruit and jellies on top. It can also be served like a parfait with fruit. Plain Greek yogurt often makes an excellent substitute for sour cream. Greek yogurt can be used in any way that your regular yogurt brand is used, but with a thicker, creamier texture.

Although both types of yogurt are healthy in their low-fat varieties, Greek yogurt has some serious advantages. The straining process characteristic of Greek yogurt removes much of the lactose, sugars, liquid whey and sugars, giving Greek yogurt that creamy texture and tangy taste that consumers love. This allows Greek yogurt to have nearly half the amount of sugar, and twice the protein of regular yogurt, but in roughly the same amount of calories.

Greek yogurt has many benefits, for your health, your waistline, and your palette. Greek yogurt is a great breakfast food or snack for when you are on a diet, because it has drastically reduced sugars, and high protein, in the same amount of calories as a regular yogurt of the same size. It is also far more rich and filling than regular yogurt, so in the same amount of calories, you will feel satisfied for a far longer time. Greek yogurt is a great source of pro-biotics which support a healthy immune system. Greek yogurt's sweet, tangy, creamy taste blows any yogurt I have had before far out of the water, and it's rich, thick, creamy texture only serves to add to the experience. It is definitely yogurt at its best.

Fage Greek yogurt has a thick, creamy texture and comes in a wide variety of flavors, including non-fat options, and is available in most grocery stores.

Krinos Greek yogurt is one of the richest, creamiest out there. It is so sweet and rich that when you serve it with fruit it tastes like ice cream. This yogurt is a perfect desert, or a great yogurt for that frozen yogurt recipe you've been wanting to try.

Zoi Greek yogurt is a little bit more hard to find, it is not generally featured in grocery stores but it is WELL worth the hunt. Its especially creamy consistency and sublime flavors make it one of the best yogurts I've ever had.