1: Is That “Healthy” Yogurt Hiding More Sugar Than a Donut?
When I first made a decision to start eating healthier, I was rather partial to flavored yogurts. They were printed on the pack that they had fruit in them, that they were “light” alternatives, and they were vibrant, cheerful-packed. So, I was really deceived into thinking that I was making a healthy choice – something that was not too heavy on the stomach, and yet the perfect meal for breakfast or a snack in the afternoon. But what I didn’t know then was that most of these little cups were not at all the products I expected because they had far more sugar than the glazed doughnuts.
Flavored yogurts, especially the ones having granola or fruit, can contain around 15 to 25 grams of additional sugar per serving. This in fact is equivalent to consuming five tablespoons of sugar all at once. I was simply delivering sugar to my system under the guise of a healthy product. Sugar was not the only issue, as a huge number of the low-fat varieties also use starches like cornstarch or gelatin in place of the creamy texture, none of which are good for your health. I thought I was giving my body the best but, in reality, I was just making it roll with my blood sugar whenever I took off the foil cover.
What’s more, it’s even worse than this, as the yogurt industry has a strong focus on high-flying terms. “Fruit on the bottom,” “probiotic,” and “light” do not necessarily mean that things have got better. The fruit just contains sugar, there is no nutritious power in it. The probiotics? The fact is that a number of firms sterilize their yogurt after the fermentation stage, which means that all the good bacteria are gone. Also, if a yogurt product is not one to be followed by a real meal, then it is not one. You deserve quality food, right?
I was quite amazed when I switched to plain Greek yogurt and added my favorite fruits. Initially, it was a bit sour, but soon afterward, my energy was more balanced and I didn’t have any middle-of-the-morning cravings. Every now and then, one simply has to put due diligence and read labels carefully so as to truly get what a “healthy” item is all about, and I don’t even mention yogurt yet.
