greek yogurt vs. original

mcgeorge5
mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Explain to me why everyone specifically suggests greek yogurt and not just 'yogurt'? I've never tried greek yogurt but I love my Activia every morning.

TIA

Replies

  • blytheandbonnie
    blytheandbonnie Posts: 3,275 Member
    I think it's because greek yogurt has more protein by volume. Other than that, eat what you like. I prefer regular Darigold yogurt myself, although I do enjoy me some greek yogurt now and then.
  • Alphastate
    Alphastate Posts: 295 Member
    I prefer greek yogurt because of the amount of protein.
  • jsd_135
    jsd_135 Posts: 291 Member
    Yup. Another way to say it is more protein per calorie. A lot of people also prefer the creamier texture. It's also a little less tangy. I happen to like both.
  • RCottonRPh
    RCottonRPh Posts: 148
    Regular yogurt tends to be loaded with sugar!!! Sometimes more than ice cream or soda. With greek yogurt, you get high protein and low sugar...so it's healthier!
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    less carbs too much healthier
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    A lot more protein, often double or more, so more filling, plus it is thicker and can be a good alternative to cream on fruit, or be mixed with lots of things to make a filling, high protein dessert or breakfast.
  • Shadowcub
    Shadowcub Posts: 154 Member
    Explain to me why everyone specifically suggests greek yogurt and not just 'yogurt'?

    Greek-Style yogurt has some liquid whey removed from the finished yogurt. Since the whey is mostly Sugar water (plus a bit of protein, sodium, and a significant amount of calcium) it increases the ratio of other nutrients (including protein) to volume.

    3 cups of Greek-Style yogurt is roughly equivalent to 4 cups of "normal" yogurt, but with 13 grams of lactose and some water removed. That leaves you higher Protein:Carb ratio, something many people are after for various reasons.

    Me, I prefer it for the taste!

    EDIT: For more details on what is lost in the whey, do a database search for "Generic - Liquid Whey From Fat Free Yogurt Making" or I posted some detailed info in this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1013648-makin-yogurt?hl=makin'+yogurt
  • jsd_135
    jsd_135 Posts: 291 Member
    Regular yogurt tends to be loaded with sugar!!! Sometimes more than ice cream or soda. With greek yogurt, you get high protein and low sugar...so it's healthier!

    Assuming we're talking about unsweetened plain yogurt, it's not "loaded" with sugar. It does have a higher sugar content than Greek, because much of the naturally occurring sugars in the milk are strained out in Greek yogurt. Yogurt, whether Greek or regular, can only be loaded with sugar if they've been sweetened with something. Just an FYI, because I see this a lot.
  • LexiAtel
    LexiAtel Posts: 228 Member
    Lol, Greek Yogurt is just a market trend right now. I like it better than the regular because it's not as watery. All Greek yogurt is just a 2nd whey draining. I am sure the big companies are making more money by having us switch to Greek, they can keep the drainage and use it in something. I plan to make some one time. :)

    Basically, if you take the regular kind and let it sit in the fridge in a mesh strainer, you will have Greek Yogurt.

    Another thing is traditionally, Greek Yogurt was not made from the milk of the cow, but of the sheep. I don't think it's that way with Greek Yogurt in America though.
  • Shadowcub
    Shadowcub Posts: 154 Member
    Another thing is traditionally, Greek Yogurt was not made from the milk of the cow, but of the sheep. I don't think it's that way with Greek Yogurt in America though.
    You are mostly correct. "Greek Yogurt" comes not only from sheep's milk, but GREEK SHEEP. What we mostly have in the USA is "Greek-Style Yogurt" which is drained of extra whey like the true Greek Yogurt is. Greek-Style is usually made with (cheaper) cow's milk, but can be made with goat, sheep, or even non-milk "milks" (soy, almond, rice, etc.). But due to the removal of extra lactose, many people who are lactose intolerant find that they CAN eat Greek-Style yogurt....

    YMMV

    PS: The "Makin' Yogurt" thread I linked above has ample descriptions of various (simple, no special equipment needed) ways to make yogurt. Give it a try!
  • mcgeorge5
    mcgeorge5 Posts: 92 Member
    thank you everyone for explaining it to me!
  • jsd_135
    jsd_135 Posts: 291 Member
    Lol, Greek Yogurt is just a market trend right now. I like it better than the regular because it's not as watery. All Greek yogurt is just a 2nd whey draining. I am sure the big companies are making more money by having us switch to Greek, they can keep the drainage and use it in something. I plan to make some one time. :)

    Basically, if you take the regular kind and let it sit in the fridge in a mesh strainer, you will have Greek Yogurt.

    Another thing is traditionally, Greek Yogurt was not made from the milk of the cow, but of the sheep. I don't think it's that way with Greek Yogurt in America though.

    I make my own Greek yogurt, from cow's milk. I'd like to find some sheep's milk to try this out.

    Regarding the whey: Someone posted an article recently about how Greek yogurt producers are actually a bit overburdened by all the whey. They can't just dump it (good thing), but there's apparently not a huge marked for yogurt whey. Apparently the whey protein isolate found in protein powders comes from cheese-making, not yogurt making. I've been watering my roses with my yogurt whey (50-50 water/whey mix) about once a week, and they're doing great. I'm trying to figure out how else to use it in my garden.
  • cpalumbo89
    cpalumbo89 Posts: 71 Member
    I also use it in place of pretty much everything. Mayo in salads, cream in pasta sauces, even milk and cereal. I use plain and mix it with nutella or peanut butter and omg its so good. Try going on pinterest and typing in Greek Yogurt and they will show you all the ways it can be used.
  • TigerBite
    TigerBite Posts: 611 Member
    Activia is overpriced and overrated. NEWS FLASH: Most yogurt brands with live active cultures contains bifidus cultures; which is what they tout as being so great about their product. Plain yogurt, greek or otherwise is much better for you; if you need ir sweeter then add som fresh bruit of a teaspoon of honey.
  • Alwayssohungry
    Alwayssohungry Posts: 369 Member
    Regular yogurt tends to be loaded with sugar!!! Sometimes more than ice cream or soda. With greek yogurt, you get high protein and low sugar...so it's healthier!

    To make your own Greek Yogurt just hang regular yogurt in cheese cloth until the liquid drains. Sooooooo not necessarily lower in sugar.
  • rebbylicious
    rebbylicious Posts: 621 Member
    it's not just the protein - it's the active probiotics that are so good for you. Regular yogurt doesn't usually have as many as greek.

    Oh and btw I tried an activia recently out of desperation and it was REVOLTING how sweet it was. BLAHH 29 fricking Grams?? Not worth it... I would rather eat a candy bar If I am going to eat that much sugar!
  • aliceclutz90
    aliceclutz90 Posts: 151 Member
    High protein content, particularly in the fat free varieties. As others have said , a lot of your regular yogurts have loads of sugar and additives, a greek yogurt like Total (fage) has nothing added in.

    So damn expensive though!
  • aliceclutz90
    aliceclutz90 Posts: 151 Member
    it's not just the protein - it's the active probiotics that are so good for you. Regular yogurt doesn't usually have as many as greek.

    Oh and btw I tried an activia recently out of desperation and it was REVOLTING how sweet it was. BLAHH 29 fricking Grams?? Not worth it... I would rather eat a candy bar If I am going to eat that much sugar!

    I have to agree, I can't understand all these sugary products that are marketed as being "healthy". Would prefer a Cadbury Freddo any day!
  • shadus
    shadus Posts: 424 Member
    Funny you mention it, I pinned a "how to make your own greek yogurt" thing today. The difference is how much whey is in it basically. If you mix the whey in, it's Yogurt. If you don't, it's greek yogurt.

    http://pinterest.com/pin/288652657337395558/
  • misschip1983
    misschip1983 Posts: 67 Member
    I love greek yogurt I have it every morning with a spoon ful of honey. seems to be making me feel less bloated :)
  • LeanneGoingThin
    LeanneGoingThin Posts: 215 Member
    Explain to me why everyone specifically suggests greek yogurt and not just 'yogurt'?

    Greek-Style yogurt has some liquid whey removed from the finished yogurt. Since the whey is mostly Sugar water (plus a bit of protein, sodium, and a significant amount of calcium) it increases the ratio of other nutrients (including protein) to volume.

    3 cups of Greek-Style yogurt is roughly equivalent to 4 cups of "normal" yogurt, but with 13 grams of lactose and some water removed. That leaves you higher Protein:Carb ratio, something many people are after for various reasons.

    Me, I prefer it for the taste!

    EDIT: For more details on what is lost in the whey, do a database search for "Generic - Liquid Whey From Fat Free Yogurt Making" or I posted some detailed info in this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1013648-makin-yogurt?hl=makin'+yogurt

    Interesting, thank you.
  • Miiimii
    Miiimii Posts: 279 Member
    I prefer quark over any kind of yoghurt, if I wanna eat it as dessert or in combination wih something sweet or fruits. I use normal yoghurt with my indian meals. I tried greek yoghurt, but for me, I don't need it. ;-)
  • CeddysMum
    CeddysMum Posts: 101 Member
    I love Greek style yoghurt. I've been using it since long before starting my weightloss journey. Two main reasons:
    1. the higher protein content
    2. because it is so thick and not as tangy as 'original' it is sooo versatile, for example:
    - I use it instead of sour cream in recipes,
    - to make healthy dips,
    - mixed with salsa or lemon juice for salad dressings, or with a little sweet chilli sauce for a delicious seafood salad dressing,
    - mixed with some red onion, spring onion or chives, maybe some fresh garlic, and some salt and pepper as a refreshing and healthy bread spread
    - it makes a much more yummy (to me) Tzatziki
    and,
    - being a mayonnaise addict (and I Hate commercial reduced fat mayo), I make my own 'reduced fat' mayo version by using (just) 1 part full fat whole egg mayo to 2 parts Greek style yoghurt with a little Dijon mustard, salt and pepper and voilá, I can fulfil my mayo cravings (still used sparingly)
    - probably lots of other uses, these just from the top of my head right now
  • chezjuan
    chezjuan Posts: 747 Member
    To make your own Greek Yogurt just hang regular yogurt in cheese cloth until the liquid drains.

    I've been making Indian food for years and some recipes call for "Hung Yogurt," which, as it turns out, is what we now call Greek yogurt. It's actually saved me a lot of time on certain recipes since I can just buy a tub of Chobani plain rather than hang my own (though I still will hang my own if I know I want to make something enough in advance).
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Regular yogurt tends to be loaded with sugar!!! Sometimes more than ice cream or soda. With greek yogurt, you get high protein and low sugar...so it's healthier!

    Assuming we're talking about unsweetened plain yogurt, it's not "loaded" with sugar. It does have a higher sugar content than Greek, because much of the naturally occurring sugars in the milk are strained out in Greek yogurt. Yogurt, whether Greek or regular, can only be loaded with sugar if they've been sweetened with something. Just an FYI, because I see this a lot.

    When yogurt is strained (ala greek style) .... the liquid that gets drained off is tart .... so Greek yogurt needs less sugar to sweeten it.

    BUT - this brings up a good point. Don't assume all Greek yogurt has less sugar .... it just starts out that way.

    Greek (not greek style) should be strained ...... adding milk solids (instead of straining) doesn't bring down the tartness (alas high sugar again) .... be sure to read the label.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Lol, Greek Yogurt is just a market trend right now. I like it better than the regular because it's not as watery. All Greek yogurt is just a 2nd whey draining. I am sure the big companies are making more money by having us switch to Greek, they can keep the drainage and use it in something. I plan to make some one time. :)

    Basically, if you take the regular kind and let it sit in the fridge in a mesh strainer, you will have Greek Yogurt.

    Another thing is traditionally, Greek Yogurt was not made from the milk of the cow, but of the sheep. I don't think it's that way with Greek Yogurt in America though.

    It's goat's milk .... and yes, it's a requirement for "Greek" yogurt in the country of Greece.
  • Shadowcub
    Shadowcub Posts: 154 Member
    It's goat's milk .... and yes, it's a requirement for "Greek" yogurt in the country of Greece.
    Goat, sheep, horse.... One of those "weird" milks that United Statesians don't generally drink. :laugh:

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