Which is healthier, Greek yogurt or regular yogurt? Nutritionist explains "The main difference lies in 2 ingredients"

Health     7:58am, 4 November 2025

Smooth and fragrant yogurt is a very popular snack. Its convenient consumption has also become a staple food for people who eat out, and it is also considered to be a healthy food. In addition to regular yogurt, many brands have also launched "Greek-style yogurt" in recent years, which are different in terms of taste, production process and nutritional ingredients.

Prevention explains the nutritional differences, advantages and disadvantages of the two types of yogurt based on the opinions of comprehensive nutritionists. According to the USDA, the ingredient differences between the two types of whole-fat and non-fat yogurt are as follows:

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・170g Greek non-fat yogurt: 104 kcal, 18g protein, 6g carbohydrate, 189mg calcium.

・170 grams of regular skim yogurt: 85 calories, 7 grams of protein, 14 grams of carbohydrates, 284 mg of calcium.

・170g Greek full-fat yogurt: 160 calories, 15g protein, 8g carbohydrate, 189mg calcium.

・170 grams of regular full-fat yogurt: 133 calories, 6 grams of protein, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 216 mg of calcium.

It can be found that Greek yogurt has a higher protein content and less calcium than ordinary yogurt. Both regular yogurt and Greek yogurt contain probiotics, which can prevent colorectal cancer by changing the intestinal flora. Studies have shown that eating sugar-free plain yogurt can help reduce the risk of metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

Nutritionists say that both are nutritious natural dairy products, and there is no one that is healthier. It all depends on personal preferences and nutritional intake goals. When choosing, you should pay attention to avoid products with extra sugar or too many artificial additives.

Advantages and disadvantages of Greek yogurt

Greek yogurt has higher protein than ordinary yogurt. It is rich in "casein", a protein that is digested slowly, which can prolong the feeling of satiety. It can also provide the body with essential amino acids, help repair and promote muscle growth. One study found that people participating in a 12-week exercise program experienced greater gains in strength and biceps when they ate Greek yogurt instead of carbohydrates.

Another study pointed out that Greek yogurt can enhance the anti-inflammatory effect after exercise training.

The reason why Greek yogurt has a thicker and smoother texture is because the whey is filtered out during the production process. However, this step will lose some calcium, and the sour taste may be more prominent. Not everyone can accept its taste.

In addition to the nutritional content, making Greek yogurt requires more milk, resulting in increased costs and a higher price than ordinary yogurt. The waste by-products produced are also a problem.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ordinary Yogurt

Ordinary yogurt has a refreshing texture and taste, and is easy to eat with fruits, nuts and other ingredients. It also has lower total calories than Greek yogurt, making it suitable for people who want to reduce calorie intake or accurately control calories.

Also due to differences in manufacturing processes, ordinary yogurt retains more calcium than Greek yogurt, which is more helpful for bone health and is also cheaper.

On the contrary, its protein content is not as high as Greek yogurt, and its effect in prolonging satiety is not obvious. In terms of cooking purposes, many people now use Greek yogurt to replace mayonnaise, cream or cheese. For this feature, ordinary yogurt with a thinner texture is difficult to use.