Yogurt has earned itself a reputation for being one of the healthiest foods around. But is it? Yoghurt can easily turn into unhealthy food - and this is not just about pseudo-healthy yoghurts with cookie bits and candy.

Dairy novelties are constantly appearing on the shelves of our stores - so how do you choose the healthiest yogurt? We'll tell you.

Choose yogurt without additives

To obtain yoghurt, you need milk and two bacterial cultures - Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophilus, which convert milk into yoghurt by fermentation.

Plus some sugar or fruit and that's it. Stay away from foods with a long list of ingredients, some of which you can't even pronounce.

Look for beneficial bacteria

Probiotics - good bacteria... They are similar to those found in your digestive tract. Probiotics are a key ingredient in yogurt, promoting digestion and overall gut health.

Surprisingly, not all yoghurts in stores actually contain "live and active crops." Some companies heat-treat yoghurts to extend shelf life, killing bacteria - good and bad. There is no benefit from such a product.

Calcium

Yogurt is great source calcium, but the amount may vary from brand to brand. Look for yogurt that contains at least 15% of daily value calcium. Ideally, 15 to 35%.

Check sugar

Looking for yogurt with the lowest sugar content? Do not rely solely on the number of grams indicated on the label. Plain yogurt has a fair amount of natural milk sugar- lactose (about 9 grams per 180 ml), to which sugar is added. So avoid foods that contain sugar first or second.

Avoid Fruit

Of course, it is better to buy yoghurt without additives and put it in it at home. fresh berries and fruits to your taste. But sometimes we still want strawberry or cherry yogurt.

In this case, make sure that natural fruits and berries are added to it - they should be among the ingredients at the very beginning. Otherwise, if this information is listed somewhere at the end of the list, it is most likely that a mixture of sugar and food coloring has been added to the product.

Don't be afraid of fat

Low-fat foods are devoid of any benefit. In addition, the word "fat-free" on the packaging does not always mean low in calories. This is because often low-fat yoghurts contain a lot of sugar. So opt for yoghurt with natural fruits, or simply add a teaspoon of honey to your low-fat kefir.

Read the label carefully

Start doing this and you will very soon understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy yogurt. Look out for the beneficial bacteria L. Bulgaricus and S. Thermophilus, and the amount of sugar. And be healthy!

Natural yoghurt is very popular in America, Turkey and Greece, as well as in other parts of the world. This product is obtained by fermenting milk using a bacterial starter culture. Natural yogurt is not sweet, but has a sour taste. You can see how this product looks like in the photos below.

Selection and storage

Among huge amount of yoghurts on store shelves, it is quite difficult to choose a natural product. There are several aspects that should be taken into account in order not to be mistaken when choosing:

1. It is worth starting with the expiration date: the smaller it is, the better and more natural the product will be. If you see some sky-high value, for example, several months, you should refuse to buy such a product.
2. Next, we go to the composition and there, in mandatory live bacteria Lactobacillus bulgaricus must be present. Some unscrupulous manufacturers indicate on the packaging "made on the basis of living bacteria", such a product is not natural and it is better not to buy it.
3. Yoghurts using fruits and berries cannot be considered natural, so in accordance with GOST, such a product should not contain additives.
4. When choosing natural yoghurt, pay attention to the packaging. It should be solid without any damage.

The shelf life of natural yoghurt is no more than 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of natural yoghurt have been evaluated in medicine, since this product contains probiotics, as well as a large number of vitamins and minerals. This product contains calcium and phosphorus, which are necessary for bone tissue... Considering this, it is recommended to use natural yoghurt people with fractures for quick recovery... This product contains a large amount of potassium, which is necessary for the normalization of the cardiovascular system.

The natural product has a beneficial effect on digestion and the work of the digestive tract in general. This product is considered great alternative for people who have lactose intolerance.

It has been proven that natural yogurt promotes weight loss, because its calorie content is low, which means it is recommended to be consumed by obese people.

Research has proven that this the product protects the body from the development of cancer, and it also helps to fight problems of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, natural yogurt helps fight gum inflammation.

The beneficial properties of natural yogurt lie in its unique composition... Thanks to them, there is an opportunity for women to accept this product not only during pregnancy, but also during breastfeeding... When eating natural yogurt, the body of a young mother is enriched with calcium, as well as vitamins and other microelements, which are subsequently passed on to the child along with milk.

Among other things, natural yogurt is actively used in cosmetology, being excellent remedy for the preparation of masks for the face, body and hair. Also, using this product, you can prepare an effective cream to moisturize the skin. We suggest that you take note of a few simple recipes preparation of cosmetic products based on natural yoghurt at home.

Before you start preparing masks and creams, you should remember that for oily skin you should use only low-fat yogurt, and vice versa for dry yogurt.

• The most simple option there will be a thin layer of pure natural yogurt on the face. The product must be kept on the skin for fifteen minutes, and then rinsed off the face. warm water. Such manipulations will narrow the pores and remove the oily sheen on the skin.
• If your face is often flaky and your skin is too sensitive, it is recommended to prepare next remedy: Mix two tablespoons of natural yoghurt with peach pulp, add a spoonful of almond oil to the mixture, then bring the mask to homogeneity. If you want to make a scrub, add ground almonds to the mixture, then apply the composition on your face with gentle circular movements, rinse off twenty minutes later with cold water.
• For dry and combination skin a mixture of natural yogurt with orange juice and pulp is suitable. If you are allergic to citrus fruits, you need to add black currant to the mask. The mixture should be thick, like sour cream, and you need to apply it on the face in a thick layer, and then rinse off after ten minutes.
• The puffiness of the skin will help to remove a mask made of natural yogurt, to which chamomile infusion should be added. You can prepare it yourself, or you can buy it ready-made at the pharmacy. For two tablespoons of yogurt, a teaspoon of infusion will be enough. Stir all this, then apply the mixture to the face, cleared of cosmetics, and after ten minutes, rinse the skin with cool water.
• In the fight against acne, pimples and redness on the skin, a mask based on natural yogurt and essential oils will help. To prepare it, just mix a spoonful of yogurt with three drops of any essential oil, and then apply the product to problem areas of the skin. After twenty-five minutes, you can wash off the mask with warm water.

Any of the above masks based on natural yogurt can be used no more than three times a week. The results will be visible after just two applications.

For people who have scalp or hair problems, there are also several guidelines on how to use natural yogurt correctly to get rid of them. We offer you several recipes for preparing products based on this product that will help you cope with most problems.

• The following remedy will help to fight oily hair: mix two tablespoons of yogurt with three tablespoons of natural cognac, then add honey in the amount of one spoon, and then mix all the ingredients thoroughly so that the composition is homogeneous. It must be applied to the roots of the hair, rubbing into the scalp so that the mask penetrates as deeply as possible into the pores. Leave the mixture on your hair for twenty minutes, after which rinse it off with warm water.
• Another mask will help against hair loss. It is very easy to prepare it. To do this, you need to buy ordinary black bread and get rid of the crust, leaving only the crumb. Then fold the bread into a suitable container and cover with natural yogurt, leaving the crumb to swell. After that, apply the gruel to damp hair, working especially well on the root line, and leave as much as possible. The longer the mask is on the hair, the better the effect will be. It is necessary to wash it off with shampoo, preferably using a baby shampoo.

With all this, do not forget that natural yogurt is also great option for breakfast or late dinner. It can be consumed with fresh fruit or add to salads, and it is also useful to eat this product at night.

Cooking use

Natural yoghurt has a neutral taste, which allows it to be used in cooking for cooking varied dishes ... This product can serve excellent dressing for salads, casseroles and various main courses. If you add berries to yogurt, then it can be a wonderful dessert from which you can make jelly, etc. You can make various cocktails from this drink.

Natural yogurt is often used in cooking. It is used for the preparation of desserts, salads, pastries and other dishes. Some recipes require the presence of this particular product, but sometimes it happens that it is not at hand, and finding this ingredient in the store is problematic. In this case, it becomes necessary to replace natural yogurt with other products.

If you ask experienced hostesses then they will tell you that the following ingredients are great as a substitute for natural yogurt:

• kefir;
• sour cream;
• curdled milk;
• matsoni.

Your choice of food should be based on the dish you are preparing. For example, if there is a need to replace yogurt in baked goods, then kefir or yogurt, which are usually mixed with cream, are best suited for this purpose. It is better to add yogurt to salads, and sour cream is perfect for desserts.

Homemade natural yoghurt

Homemade natural yogurt turns out to be much tastier than store yogurt, and most importantly - healthier. You can cook it yourself with many different ways... If you have a slow cooker or yogurt maker on hand, these tools will make the process easier. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the basic cooking recommendations homemade yoghurt using kitchen gadgets.

In a multicooker

It is not difficult to prepare delicious homemade natural yogurt in a multicooker. All you need is the kitchen gadget itself, as well as cooking ingredients such as milk and sourdough. But here one point should be clarified: if you chose UHT milk, then you will need to heat it in a saucepan to a temperature of forty degrees, and if you prefer fresh product, then it must be boiled, and then cooled to forty degrees.

The process of making natural homemade yoghurt is as follows:

1. Heat or cool the milk to the required temperature, then add the dry starter culture, while stirring the mixture.
2. Then you can do whatever is convenient for you. Either pour the milk with sourdough into the multicooker bowl, or pour it into small jars, cover the bottom of the appliance with a cloth, and then put the containers on top. In this case, you need to pour water into the bowl so that it does not reach the necks of the cans by two centimeters.
3. Close the lid of the multicooker and turn on the "Yogurt" mode, if there is one on your device. If it is not there, turn on the multicooker in the "Heating" mode, setting the time to twenty minutes.
4. After the required time has passed, leave the yogurt in the multicooker for at least nine hours. It is best to do this at night.
5. In the morning, you can remove the finished yogurt or jars with it from the multicooker, and then put the containers with the product in the refrigerator for four hours.
6. Later required amount in time, your homemade natural yoghurt will be ready to eat.

Such a product turns out to be of higher quality than the one that can be purchased in the store. You can enjoy it with the whole family, as well as add to pastries and other dishes.

In a yogurt maker

The yoghurt maker is another useful device in your kitchen that will help you make delicious and healthy natural yoghurt at home. The process of preparing the product is very quick and simple, and so that you do not confuse anything, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations for preparing yoghurt in a yogurt maker.

1. To begin with, you should choose the "right" milk, since this choice depends on final result... It is advisable to take a product with a fat content of at least three and a half percent. It is also not recommended to buy milk in soft bags.
2. As a starter, you can take ready mix in bags, and you can also give preference to "live" yoghurts.
3. Heat the selected milk to a temperature of at least forty degrees, then add the starter culture to the liquid and beat the ingredients with a mixer until smooth.
4. At this stage, if you wish, you can add any filling: fruits, nuts, jam, etc. If you want to get pure natural yogurt, then you can skip this step.
5. Pour the mixture into special jars and send them to the yogurt maker with the lid closed and set the time to nine o'clock. In this case, the yogurt will turn out to be quite thick, therefore, if you want to make it more liquid, the time should be reduced.
6. After the required time has elapsed, remove the jars from the yogurt maker, cool until room temperature and put in the refrigerator overnight so that the product is properly infused. After that, your yogurt will be ready to eat.

As you can see, it's very easy to make natural yogurt yourself. If you heed our recommendations, you can cook delicious and useful product do it yourself, and then pamper yourself and your family with it.

Harm of natural yogurt and contraindications

Natural yogurt can be harmful to people with individual intolerance to the product. Its introduction into the diet is contraindicated in the presence of any allergic reactions organism.

Bright labels, flashy inscriptions about the benefits, a beautiful image of the most different fruits and cereals. These are the packaging of yoghurts in shops and supermarkets. How to choose the right yoghurt and not fall for the tricks of the advertisers? So that the product only benefits, and not food allergies to many dyes and additives? Let's cast aside the curtain that covers all the incomprehensible slogans and flashy inscriptions, and see what is hidden under the names "bio yoghurt", "ecological yoghurt" or "live yoghurt".

What should be the composition of yogurt

To determine the usefulness of yogurt no need to go far, just one glance at the composition is enough. Read carefully and do not grab the first product that comes across, no matter how beautiful the packaging is. So, what do we see on the label of the first brightly packaged yogurt we get our hands on?

• skimmed milk;
• cream;
• fruit filler (pineapple, sugar, water, melon, pineapple and melon flavors identical to natural, acidity regulator - lemon acid, dyes: beta-carotene, paprika resin oil);
• water;
• sugar;
• glucose fruit syrup;
• dry milk whey;
• thickener-E1422;
• dry milk whey;
• thickener- edible gelatin, using sourdough.

What useful things have such yogurt retained in itself? Yes, perhaps a little. Of all of the above, fruit filler (pineapple, melon), sugar, cream, water, beta-carotene dye, and resin wigs can be considered natural.

Flavors in yogurt

Now a little explanation about natural ingredients. The composition includes fruits in the form of pineapple and melon pieces, so why add flavorings? They are added for more bright taste and smell, so that opening the package of yogurt intoxicates you with the smell ostensibly fresh fruit. Beta-carotene and paprika gum act as a colorant. These harmless constituents of yoghurt impart a delicate yellowish color. As you know, beta-carotene is nothing more than carrot juice, well, there is nothing to say about paprika resin, so it is clear about its origin.

Sugar in yogurt

About sugar need to be spoken separately. At first glance, the presence of sugar in yogurt is natural, but what if it contains not only sugar, but also glucose, fructose, sugar syrup, and others, or worse, all together. Such a product becomes a time bomb for human body... Consuming such a product in the blood, the sugar level rises sharply, which provokes diseases such as obesity, problems with the cardiovascular system, diabetes mellitus.

Eating such yogurt for sick diabetes mellitus, people with heart problems, obese patients are contraindicated. In such cases, it is better to pay attention to natural yoghurts, without additives, and again carefully study the composition to make sure there are no unsafe ingredients. Now enough natural yoghurts offer our attention small and large grocery stores... It is worth giving preference to a Finnish, Latvian and Polish manufacturer, since in these countries there are more prohibited products in production than in our country.

What milk is included in yogurt

So, let's move on to the main component - milk... Here you can argue for a long time about which milk will be better and healthier in the composition good yoghurt... We can say with confidence that you need to give up a product that contains reconstituted milk and powdered milk... Thus, manufacturers reduce the cost of production as much as possible, and for us, not only is there any benefit from such yoghurt, and it is not a fact that when buying, you will not encounter damage to the contents of the package or simply get poisoned, since bacteria multiply faster in such a product. Well, milk of unknown origin and quality, mainly the manufacturer is China and other Asian countries, which makes us doubt the safety and quality of the product. In theory, such a product cannot be called yogurt, the correct name of the product "Yoghurt product with fruit".

Skimmed milk of course not either the best way, as, in fact, and ultra pasteurized, but still it is much better than powdered or reconstituted milk. Skim milk is an option for dieters. If you healthy person with a strong body, then choose yogurt, which contains whole milk , such fermented milk product will bring you much more benefit.

Thickeners

Pay attention to which thickeners used in your chosen yoghurt. Is it agar or gelatin? This product can be taken with confidence, because agar-agar it is a product (a mixture of agarose and agaropectin polysaccharides) obtained from red and brown algae growing in the Black and White Seas, as well as the Pacific Ocean and forming dense jelly in aqueous solutions.

Gelatin- a colorless, transparent viscous mass, which is obtained by processing connective tissue of animal origin. It is worth considering if the composition contains thickener E1422 under whose name is hidden modified starch... Although many countries in the world scream for his safety, nevertheless frequent use foods with this supplement can adversely affect the pancreas and liver. Do not buy such yoghurts too often for children.

Yoghurts for children

Choose yoghurts for children stands with extreme caution. Close your eyes to the advertised brands and just take a look at the list of products in the composition of yogurt. Just know that the shorter it is, and the more understandable the composition, the safer the yogurt. As you know, children very quickly get used to and are addicted to sugar and flavors... Don't turn your child into a food addict. Now he demands from you sweets with harmful contents, and in the near future you will work for not cheap medicines, supporting pharmaceutical companies.

Choosing yogurt

When choosing yoghurt, inspect integrity of packaging... No dents, leakage. Dairy and fermented milk products very easily absorb harmful microorganisms from the environment and such a product will become not only not useful, but also hazardous to health.

Choosing yogurt you need look at the production date... Yogurt should be stored at a temperature of +4, +6 degrees for no more than 10 days from the date of production. This applies to natural yoghurts. But on store shelves you can find yoghurts that can be stored for up to 6 months, of course, and the composition of such a product is very long and often incomprehensible. It is preservatives and various additives extend the storage period. Is it possible to get the maximum benefit from such a product? Of course not.

The yoghurt packaging should say about the content of beneficial bifidobacteria... At the end of the term, they do not die, as is commonly thought, they can become dangerous. There is an interesting joke on this occasion: "If the shelf life of yogurt is over, you should know that the bifidobacteria contained in it did not die at all - they just went over to the evil side."

Yogurt is a healthy product

Of course, yoghurts will always be bought, because they are advertised as good for the intestines, and indeed for the whole body products. Some people use them instead of a light snack, others as a dessert, and even use yoghurts for breakfast. Ways of eating yoghurt and interesting recipes with the addition of delicious, dairy product so many. If you are planning to cook a healthy and tasty breakfast then it is worth paying attention to. They will be a great satisfying and tasty start to the working day. Even children will love it. You can change the recipe and add those fruits that you like best, or you can make yogurt even tastier and healthier by adding a handful of nuts and cereals.

So you have learned how to choose yoghurts. In their the right choice there is nothing difficult. The main thing is the composition and shelf life. How to choose yogurt with health benefits, protect children from harmful additives and flavor enhancers? The simplest advice: do not see ads, be suspicious of brightly colored product labels, and scrutinize the product carefully. Following these rules, you will always have only healthy yogurt on your table, which will improve digestion, cheer you up and delight you with its taste.

Try the recipe for crab stick salad, but substitute light mayonnaise for yogurt without any additives. Such a replacement will make the salad even more delicate and dietary, but keep in mind that the taste of the resulting dish is "for everybody's taste", so make a small portion the first time you cook it, suddenly you don't like it.

Today, yogurt can be called a popular product among people seeking to replace fatty foods with healthier ones in order to get rid of extra pounds... But before you start consuming this low-calorie and dietary product, it is necessary to answer the question: is it possible to eat yoghurts while losing weight, and find out about what harm it can bring with overuse.

What is Yogurt

Have you decided to opt for such an option as a yogurt diet for weight loss? Then keep in mind that these are fermented milk products made from thickened and pasteurized cow's milk, which undergoes thorough processing. He might be:

• fat-free;
• low in fat;
• creamy.

To change the properties and taste, live bacteria (bifidobacteria) are added to the composition, which contribute to the digestion of carbohydrates and suppress the development of pathogens. The production is based on the fermentation process. Chemical composition 150 g of products includes:

• 260 mg calcium, which is 25 percent of daily allowance;
• 300 mg potassium;
• 25.5 mg magnesium.

The calorie and fat content of many well-known fermented milk products is low, which allows them to be used as an additive to the main diet. The nutritional value products for the example of 100 g of Activia is equal to:

• 4.5 g - protein;
• 3.5 g - fat;
• 6.3 g - carbohydrates.

Low fat yogurt

Can you eat yogurt on a diet? In general, yes, but on condition that this purchase is at least harmless to the body. Especially if you decide to use low-fat yogurt for this. Along with the fat in the composition, the salt content is reduced, which is often replaced with potassium chloride. As for fat, this dairy product replaces it with water and sugar. The latter component cannot make a diet truly healthy.

So that the fat-free fermented milk product in its consistency resembles as much as possible usual variant, starch is often added to the composition. Its presence interferes with the processes of fat burning in the body. It turns out that if you degrease these products, then instead of some components you have to add others that may be more harmful. Therefore, you should not overuse such a low-fat option, even if it is very fresh.

Low Calorie Yogurt

When deciding to purchase suitable low-calorie yoghurts, pay attention not only to their popularity brand and the name, but also energy value... Often, the calories in such a delicacy, depending on the manufacturer, can vary greatly, and therefore, not every such product can be consumed with diets. Average calorie content natural product with bifidobacteria for every 100 g is in the range of 60-110 kcal:

• Activia natural - 75 kcal;
• Greek - 66 kcal;
• Danone thermostatic thick - 49 kcal;
• Miracle - 99 kcal;
• Frugurt - 70 kcal;
• Activia - 90 kcal;
• Neo Imunele Natural - 63 kcal.

Useful properties of yogurt

Before answering the question: which yogurt is the most useful for weight loss, find out what benefits this product can bring and whether it can be combined with certain diets. So, beneficial features yoghurt are as follows:

• positive impact on the intestines and the digestive system, because This product is able to improve food digestion, prevent constipation, help with poisoning and reduce the risk of cancer;
• beneficial effect on vascular system, as a result of which it is regulated blood pressure and the level of cholesterol decreases;
• improving the condition genitourinary system;
• preventing osteoporosis;
• stimulating the immune system.

Slimming yogurt

Using yogurt for weight loss is great way losing weight and improving performance digestive system... True, for this purpose only a product with bacteria is suitable, which you need to buy slowly - pay attention to the shelf life, which is about 30 days. Many experts recommend shortening it to 2 weeks. Availability long term storage is associated with the passage of the product through heat treatment... In the process, many fermentation products die, and finished products becomes less useful.

What is the healthiest yogurt

As with any product, the buyer needs to be sure of the quality and choose the best one. The most useful yogurt is the one that does not worsen the calorie situation and has a positive effect on health. Therefore, it is better to choose a "live" product, which contains special bacteria. To do this, look for the words on the packaging: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, etc. Its shelf life should not be more than 2 weeks, and ideally should be about 7 days.

Is it possible to lose weight on yoghurt

The answer to the question: is it possible to eat yoghurts while losing weight has already been clarified, but another one arises - how to lose weight on yoghurts? To do this, choose products that are not too high in calories with a small amount of fat and a minimum of sugar. Therefore, skip the fruit-based sweetener and additives option, which many people like to eat for dessert. Avoid products with the words "identical to natural", "flavorings".

What yoghurts can be used on a diet

Is it possible to eat homemade yoghurts while losing weight is a question asked by many people who have not found a suitable option on store shelves. To do this, you only need a yogurt maker, kefir starter culture, about a liter of milk and fruit or jam. All of the listed ingredients must be mixed and put to ferment, after which it can be consumed by combining, for example, with cottage cheese. Concerning store product and the answer to the question of what yoghurts are possible with a diet, then keep in mind that their fat content should be about 4 g per 100 g, and the calorie content should not be more than 250 kcal.

Yoghurt diet

You should not follow such a diet for more than 10 days. If desired, the yogurt diet can be repeated after a couple of days:

• breakfast - 150 g of product, 100 g each of fruits, juice, dried fruits;
• lunch - 100-150 g of product, 100 g of boiled meat, salad, 100 g of juice;
• afternoon tea - vegetables;
• dinner - vegetable stew, fermented milk products, juice.

Yoghurt diet for 7 days

If you follow such a diet, you need to consume about 500 g of a natural product daily, divided into 4 doses. Yoghurt diet for 7 days:

• breakfast - green tea and any fruit;
• snack - 150 g fermented milk products;
• dinner - light soup, a salad of fruits or vegetables, which is seasoned with yogurt;
• afternoon tea - a glass of juice (preferably freshly squeezed);
• dinner - up to 150 g of meat or fish without added fat, vegetable salad and a few tablespoons of fermented milk product.

Kefir-yogurt diet

In recent years, the kefir-yoghurt diet, which is very satisfying, has become increasingly popular. In addition to the dairy product, it contains a large amount of vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, there is boiled fish etc. Losing weight must necessarily drink about 2 liters of liquid every day, including juices, tea without sugar. Sample menu unloading kefir-yogurt diet, which can allow you to lose 500-700 g of weight per day:

• first and second breakfast - 200 g fat-free and 200 g regular kefir;
• lunch, lunch, dinner - 200 g of yogurt (natural);
• late dinner - 200 g of biokefir.

Video: which yogurt is better to buy

There is a huge selection of yoghurt on store shelves. Bright and beautiful packaging, tempting drawings of fruits and berries, screaming health benefits…. The hand itself reaches for them! I just want to try all the yoghurts, but still, let's figure out whether it is worth buying the yoghurt you like, and will it be good for your health? So, we choose the healthiest and freshest yogurt.

Examining the packaging

Take any yogurt from the shelf and look at the composition. Most likely, you will see the following ingredients: normalized milk, reconstituted milk, skimmed milk powder, dyes, sugar, flavorings, stabilizers, acidity regulators, fruit additives, and the like. What is the use of yogurt with such a dubious composition?

Real yoghurt - "live"

Real healthy yoghurt is "live": live bacteria must be present in such a product. Look for clearly labeled “active” or “live” crops such as Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus on the packaging.

Natural yogurt always contains Lactobacillus bulgaricus, but Lactobacillus acidophilus may be absent, but it is such a culture that will be very useful for our intestines. Look for it in yogurt ingredients. In addition, do not confuse the sign "Living and active cultures" with the inscription "made on the basis of live lactobacilli", because this is how the manufacturer tries to deceive the consumer, confuse and sell a useless product.

Shelf life

Shelf life healthy yogurt- no more than two weeks, and ideally should not exceed seven days. Manufacturers often make thermized yoghurt products in an effort to extend the life of their product. There is no useful microflora in such yoghurts. Simply put, after heat treatment, the shelf life increases and can go up to several months, killing live bacteria. In general, the shelf life is the most important factor in the choice of yoghurt. According to international quality standards, natural yogurt is a lactic acid drink, and after fermentation it should not undergo heat treatment and lactic acid bacteria should be preserved in it, which die after 5-7, maximum 14 days at a temperature of 0 + 10 ° C.

How much sugar do you need?

There are not so many lovers of real yoghurt, because sugar is not added to it. Therefore, most buyers prefer yoghurts with additives - pieces of berries or fruits. But the pieces of fruit are also processed before they get into yogurt, and they are deprived of all vitamins. Such special processing of berry and fruit additives necessary to prevent the fermentation process.

Buy yogurt that has two main ingredients: skim milk or pasteurized milk, and live cultures lactic acid bacteria... There are a lot of calories and little benefit from fruit yoghurts, they contain sweeteners and sugar.

Fruit yogurt- is not real product.

When buying, you should pay attention to the calcium content - very useful microelement... Its content in yogurt should be within 300 mg, and its caloric content should not exceed 250 kcal. Keep in mind that calorie content directly depends on additives: without sugar and additives there are fewer calories, but this is a matter of taste.

Harmful and dangerous ingredients

And try to avoid yoghurts with such inscriptions: the flavor identical to the natural one is pure chemistry.

Also, do not buy yogurt with vegetable fats, an analogue of margarine, guar gum. These ingredients are very harmful and guar gum is also allergenic. Pectin, sodium citrate, food gelatin are also not the best ingredients for yogurt.
Often, under the guise of yogurt, an aqueous drink is sold, to which colors and flavors have been added.

Also note that the starch in the composition is a sign of fake.

How to check the authenticity of yoghurt? Put a couple of tablespoons of yogurt in a cup or glass and add a couple of drops of iodine. Did you see the blue spots? This means that starch has been added to the composition.

Package

Do not buy yogurt in a deformed, wrinkled package, this may indicate a leak, which is very dangerous to health. If the package is open, do not take it. Packages with plastic cover more useful, they are not damaged during transportation.

Important!
If the manufacturer does not comply with the standards, then often goes to the trick, calling the product "yogurt", "frogurtik", etc. Remember this is all just useless delicious dessert... The packaging should be labeled "Yoghurt".

By the way, the density of the drink does not affect the content of lactobacilli, these crops feel equally good both in drinking and thick yogurt... Other dairy products such as whey or casein can also be added to natural yogurt.
Note that yogurt has a high concentration of lactic acid - you should not give it to children under one year old.

We wish you a good choice!