How to Make Yogurt More Nutritious – A Great Way to Start the Day
Dr. Kristie Leong
A cup of a is a great way to start the day - especially when you don-t have time to cook breakfast. It's a good source of protein and calcium and has active bacterial cultures to help keep the intestinal tract healthy. On the downside, most commercial yogurts have too much sugar - particularly if they're flavoured. The best way to get the health benefits of yogurt is to buy plain, unsweetened yogurt (or make it yourself) and give it your own burst of flavour at home. By doing this you can create a more nutritious yogurt – and turn a plain cup of yogurt into a superfood.
How to Turn Nutritious Yogurt into a Superfood
Yogurt is already healthy without adding anything to it, but a few additions can make it even better. You can turn plain yogurt into any type of breakfast you want by changing you put in it. So why not make it even healthier?
Turn Yogurt into a Superfood by Adding Fruits
The fruit flavoured yogurt you buy at the supermarket may contain more corn syrup than fruit; so skip the pre-flavoured yogurt and flavour it yourself. Buy some fresh berries and puree them in a blender or food processor and then stir them into yogurt.
Blueberries are a good choice for turning yogurt into a superfood since they-re full of anthocyanins which help to boost memory. Cranberries are another good option since they help to protect against gum disease and urinary tract infections - and may also reduce the risk of cancer. You can use almost any fresh fruit to make a more nutritious yogurt at home. Vary your fruits according to what's in season.
Turn Nutritious Yogurt into a Superfood by Adding Nuts
Nuts are a good source of monounsaturated fats which lower the risk of heart disease. Some - like walnuts and flaxseeds - are a good source of ALA which is precursor to the heart healthy omega-3s. They're also a good way to get protein, fiber, vitamin E, and magnesium. Another bonus - they're filling and satisfying. Grind up some flaxseed or chop up a handful of nuts and stir them into a cup of yogurt. This is a quick way to turn a plain cup of yogurt into a superfood.
Turn Yogurt into a Superfood by Adding Whole Grains
Add more fiber to your yogurt by stirring in whole grain cereals such as oatmeal, barley, chia, or quinoa. These grains not only add fiber, but are a good source of some B vitamins, iron, and magnesium. Adding whole grains to yogurt also makes it more filling.
Don't forget you can also add cocoa powder for more flavour and anti-oxidant power. Why settle for ordinary yogurt when you can make it a superfood? Yogurt - it's a good choice for breakfast.
Related: Be sure to see some of our yogurt-related products from Euro Cuisine.
Health Disclaimer. Copyright ©2010-2021. First published in January 2010, most recently updated in July 2021. Dr. Kristie Leong is a family practice physician and medical writer. Published with permission.