Greek yogurt vs plain yogurt – which is better?

Is Greek yogurt worth the hype? Find out

Walk into the dairy section of a supermarket and the aisle is full of options for different kinds of yoghurts. From plain to flavoured to low fat, rich creamy and vegan options you re spoilt for choices. And then you have the Greek yoghurt too which comes in plain and flavoured varieties and is so sinful that it takes a while to resist the temptation of picking it up. Greek yoghurt is certainly healthy, but it s expensive too. So is it really worth the money you spend? Dr Sonia Gandhi, Head- Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics Department, Fortis Hospital, Mohali tells us if Greek yoghurt is any better than plain yoghurt:

The procedure of making both the yoghurts is the same. The difference is that the liquid and whey is strained off a little more in the case of Greek yoghurts which imparts a creamy texture to it. Greek yoghurt is more expensive than regular yoghurt as more milk goes into making each cup.

Which is better?

Greek yoghurt has less sugar and more protein than typical yoghurt. One cup Greek yoghurt packs 23g protein as compared to 14g in plain one. But regular yoghurt supplies twice the bone-strengthening mineral calcium. The calcium content in plain yoghurt is 49% compared to Greek one which has 25%. Greek yoghurt tends to lose some of its calcium content during the straining process.

The straining process helps remove excess sugar from the yoghurt thus making Greek yoghurt taste tangier and with lower sugar content. However, the fat content is regular Greek yoghurt is higher than that in plain yoghurt. So if you opt for the former, choose low-fat options.

How to make Greek yoghurt at home?

Remove excess whey and liquid from your plain low-fat yoghurt. You can do this by tying the yoghurt in a cheesecloth or muslin cloth. Greek yoghurt can be swapped for sour cream to save calories and saturated fat while making dips, for baking and as a spread on toast and sandwiches.

Yoghurt is always a healthy choice whether you choose Greek or regular. They both have protein, calcium and probiotics with few differences in nutritive value, taste and thickness. Here s why you must eat curd every day.

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