# What kind of yogourt should I buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009 "2006-05-16T18:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/1 "2006-05-16T18:29:11Z")
Every time I buy yogourt, I find myself reading labels. It’s too confusing. They all claim to be healthy. I use yogourt to make smoothies for breakfast so I do not need sugar. I don’t want artificial sweeteners either. Do I need low fat? Is high milk fat bad for you even if you are athletic? Do all yogourts have live bacteria in them? This is often a selling feature, but does it mean anything? What about the type of bacteria? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/2 "2006-05-16T18:46:06Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Every time I buy yogourt, I find myself reading labels. It’s too confusing. They all claim to be healthy. > I use yogourt to make smoothies for breakfast so I do not need sugar. I don’t want artificial sweeteners either. Do I need low fat? Is high milk fat bad for you even if you are athletic? > Do all yogourts have live bacteria in them? This is often a selling feature, but does it mean anything? What about the type of bacteria? I think all the flavored varieties have either sugar or artificial sweetener. If you are making smoothies with your own fruit, look for plain yogurt. It is usually only available in a large tub, like a quart though. Most yogurt has live cultures, called [lactic acid bacteria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid_bacteria), such as _Lactobacillus bulgaricus_. They are what cause milk to sour to make yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/3 "2006-05-16T18:51:06Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > I think all the flavored varieties have either sugar or artificial sweetener. If you are making smoothies with your own fruit, look for plain yogurt. It is usually only available in a large tub, like a quart though. > > Most yogurt has live cultures, called [lactic acid bacteria](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid_bacteria), such as _Lactobacillus bulgaricus_. They are what cause milk to sour to make yogurt, cheese, sour cream, etc. I do buy plain yogourt. It comes in high fat and low fat. Is one any better? Is milk fat bad for you? There are other types of bacteria in some yogourts. Is this just a marketing ploy? ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/4 "2006-05-16T19:15:07Z")
I know this isn’t the advice you’re looking for, but homemade yogurt is **astonishingly** easy to make. I’d say buy a yogurt maker – that way you determine exactly how (or if) it’s sweetened, how much fat it has, etc. A little store-bought yogurt of any flavor gives you enough culture to make a whole batch. Plus, nothing beats it for tastiness. [Some yogurt makers to shop and compare](http://www.bizrate.com/yogurtmakers/). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/5 "2006-05-16T19:16:04Z")
> [@solkoe](#): > > Is milk fat bad for you? This will probably tip this thread over into Great Debates territory, but, no, milk fat is not bad for you, in moderation. Milk fat is a saturated fat, and contributes to the formation of cholesterol in the blood. However, the cholesterol levels in the blood are only minimally affected by diet. Milk fat is also a source of calories, so if you are watching your weight, a low fat diet will help you lose weight. As for live cultures, many people swear by the health benefits of foods with live cultures. Many women say that eating live culture yogurt will prevent vaginal yeast infections, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/6 "2006-05-16T19:16:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Is milk fat bad for you? It depends on the person and who you ask. I personally would go for the high fat type for the reasons of taste, slower absorbtion of energy and my belief that fat is not the problem that people make it out to be, and that rapid absorbtion of carbs is the major problem health wise. But that’s just my view which some others don’t agree with. You have to find out what works for you. > [@](#): > > There are other types of bacteria in some yogourts. Is this just a marketing ploy? There used to be a certain type which used some other bacteria which imparted a different taste - it was marketed as the yogort for those who don’t like the taste of yogort. I don’t know if they are still around. Their product was good, but wasn’t yogart taste wise. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/7 "2006-05-16T19:41:14Z")
I will echo **Beadalin** and suggest making your own. The price is way better, and you can taylor what you are making to suit your needs. ---
**Author:** ![Teak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecae2f/32.png) [@Teak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teak)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/8 "2006-05-16T19:54:29Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > I know this isn’t the advice you’re looking for, but homemade yogurt is **astonishingly** easy to make. I’d say buy a yogurt maker – that way you determine exactly how (or if) it’s sweetened, how much fat it has, etc. A little store-bought yogurt of any flavor gives you enough culture to make a whole batch. Plus, nothing beats it for tastiness. > > [Some yogurt makers to shop and compare](http://www.bizrate.com/yogurtmakers/). I’ll also point out that you don’t need a yogurt maker. Growing up in Russia, all the women in my family made their own yogurt, as did most people. I could sum it up about like this: take some milk, drop in some yogurt (for the bacterial starter colony). Put in warm spot. wait. You can read up more on it somewhere on that Internet thing. ---
**Author:** ![daffyduck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ec9cab/32.png) [@daffyduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daffyduck)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/9 "2006-05-16T20:22:49Z")
Another vote for making your own. I’ve been making my own for years. I generally use non-fat milk because it is cheaper and I don’t want the extra fat calories. You also don’t need a fancy yogurt maker. My yogurt maker is a mason jar sitting in my oven (the pilot light provides added heat, but simply sitting on the counter also works fine). Just take a spoonful of the finished yogurt and add it to a fresh serving of milk to start the process (I make two cups at a time). Any store-bought yogurt is fine to get started, they all have “live” culture. If you want to take it to the next level, instead of making yogurt, you can make kefir from “kefir grains” also called “tibetian mushrooms” as they contain a much broader spectrum of micro-beasties that supposedly provide the same benefits of plain old yogurt, only more so. [http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html](http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html) Where to get kefir grains: [http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/resources/find/find\_kefir.shtml](http://www.seedsofhealth.co.uk/resources/find/find_kefir.shtml) Drop a few frozen strawberries into a cup of kefir and blend well and you’ve got yourself a very tasty and healthy drink. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/10 "2006-05-16T21:13:38Z")
Look for the words “live culture”, which is pretty common. Yogurts without this are sweetened crap- IMHO. Live cultures are AKA “Probiotics” and \*some \* health benefits of them are undeniable, others are possible and a few are rather doubtful or exagerrated. > **[Health benefits of taking probiotics - Harvard Health](https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics)** > > Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, but a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain k... "Self-dosing with bacteria isn’t as outlandish as it might seem. An estimated 100 \*trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species inhabit every normal, healthy bowel. These microorganisms (or microflora) generally don’t make us sick; most are helpful. Gut-dwelling bacteria keep pathogens (harmful microorganisms) in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and contribute to immune function. The best case for probiotic therapy has been in the treatment of diarrhea. Controlled trials have shown that Lactobacillus GG can shorten the course of infectious diarrhea in infants and children (but not adults). … Probiotic therapy may also help people with Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. … Probiotics may also be of use in maintaining urogenital health."\* another cite: > **[Probiotics and prebiotics: What you should know](https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/probiotics/faq-20058065)** > > Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain 'good' bacteria that might help treat or prevent illness. Should they be part of your diet? Now, there are some brands that are a little more natural, and there are others which are tastier. Whichever floats your boat. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/11 "2006-05-16T23:13:08Z")
I think the OP needs opinions more than a factual answer, which is probably not possible. Moved. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![xbuckeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9e8a1a/32.png) [@xbuckeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xbuckeye)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/12 "2006-05-17T00:11:06Z")
Anything with live and active cultures has a symbol saying so. [This seal](http://www.aboutyogurt.com/lacYogurt/) has a binding definition of a certain concentration of bacteria (100 million per gram). (blue thing on the left hand column) I think that fat varies person to person. If you need to lose weight, go lowfat, if not, go with your taste preference. The highest fat yogurt I have ever seen is only 4 percent fat. For flavor, I like Dannon Natural Vanilla. It isn’t as acidic as the unflavored. Any sugar or sweeteners have to be on the label. Don’t be scared of stabilizers like gums or starch or gelatin. They are carbohydrates or protien. Fruit on the bottom is more natural than blended, and kids flavored yogurts aren’t that good for you with lots of sugar and often pasteurized after fermentation to be lunchbox friendly, so no active cultures. Can you make your own? Sure, but I’ve never gotten great results. I make my own buttermilk, but leave yogurt to the professionals. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/13 "2006-05-17T00:35:00Z")
To stay healthy, an adult needs approximately 25-30% of their diet to be fat (we need fat for things like cell membranes, and while high cholesterol has a bad rep, abnormally low cholesterol isn’t a good idea either). As far as I’m concerned, dairy is a good way to get good fats (better than McDonalds or Hostess Fruit Pies). However, we don’t need sugar or aspartame at all. Therefore, my recommendation is any kind of unsweetened yogurt with live culture bacteria. I get single-serving sizes of these at my local Safeway. ---
**Author:** ![SusanStoHelit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@SusanStoHelit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SusanStoHelit)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/14 "2006-05-17T02:17:25Z")
My favorite yogurt is made by Nancy’s. It’s a little thicker and less creamy then the other unflavored yogurts. Others that use live cultures and are made with just the basics (Milk and culture) are Mountain High, Brown Cow, and Horizon. I can’t tell the difference between full-fat and low-fat, but I notice if it’s no-fat. All of the groceries around here carry at least one of those brands, but our yuppie organic co-op has all 4. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/15 "2006-05-17T02:27:02Z")
You can get Greek yogurt with 10% milk fat, and it tastes _awesome_. So, for those of us without pilot lights, how would one keep it warm enough? ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2006, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-yogourt-should-i-buy/357009/16 "2006-05-17T12:29:20Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > So, for those of us without pilot lights, how would one keep it warm enough? Alton Brown recommends using a heating pad. Me, I bought a $18 yogurt maker and I always have yogurt in the fridge or some cooking on the counter.