Are you a fan of Yogurt? If so, you’ve probably eaten or at least seen Yoplait yogurt in the grocery stores.
Yoplait is one of the most popular yogurt brands, established in France in 1965. Since then, it has become one of the most widely consumed yogurt brands globally.
It is made from cultured low-fat milk, sugar, and modified corn starch mixed with active cultures. It is known for it’s tangy flavors and thick, creamy texture of Yogurt.
And while it comes in various fruity flavors, is Yoplait Yogurt healthy?
Short answer: Yoplait yogurt is not very healthy for you as it’s original variety is high in sugar. And even if the high sugar issue gets fixed by choosing the light and greek varieties, these varieties contain artificial sweeteners. However, if sugar is not a problem, Yoplait yogurt can be a good source of several nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamins A and D.
Let’s dive deeper into Yoplait yogurt, including it’s ingredients, sugar, protein and calcium content, and much more.
Note: Yoplait yogurt is available in different varieties. However, in this post, I’ll focus solely on the original, light, and greek variety.
So let’s start.
Also read: Is Noosa Yoghurt Healthy? Everything You Need To Know
What are the ingredients in Yoplait yogurt?
The Yoplait yogurt is available in various flavors, and therefore the exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor you choose.
However, some common ingredients across most flavors include,
- Cultured Low Fat Milk
- Sugar
- Fruit
- Modified Corn/Food Starch
- Water
It also contains other ingredients but in smaller quantities (1% or less), such as Corn Starch, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Kosher Gelatin, Vitamin A Acetate, and Vitamin D3.
How much sugar is in Yoplait yogurt?
Yoplait Yogurt is high in sugar containing 19 to 21g per serving (170g) depending on the flavor. The Yoplait yogurt original (strawberry smoothie) is the flavor with the highest sugar (21g per serving).
The sugar in Yoplait comes from both natural and added ingredients (sugar), with the majority (more than 60%) coming from added.
According to American Heart Association, the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
Consuming just a single serving of Yoplait yogurt already puts men and women at over half the recommended daily sugar intake.
If you want to limit your sugar intake, Yoplait yogurt(original) might not be the best option. And if you consume it, you will need to watch your sugar intake from other foods.
In this case, you can go for the Yoplait yogurt light(with 1g of added sugar per serving) or greek varieties(with 2g of added sugar per serving).
Instead of sugar, these varieties are sweetened with sweeteners such as allulose(natural), sucralose(artificial), and acesulfame potassium(artificial).
However, natural sugar(lactose) is still present is these varieties.
How much protein is in Yoplait yogurt?
Yoplait Yogurt(original) contains 5g of protein per serving(170g). That’s not too bad nor too good.
The protein in Yoplait yogurt comes entirely from the Yogurt itself rather than from any added source.
However, Yoplait yogurt Greek variety is the highest source of protein among other varieties , with around 14-15g per serving(150g).
Additionally, Yoplait Greek yogurts are low in added sugar(2g per serving).
So, if you want your Yogurt to be high in protein and low in sugar at the same time, the Yoplait Greek yogurt variety is a better option than the original variety.
Is Yoplait Yogurt high in calcium?
Yoplait Yogurt(original) is a good source of calcium, with most flavors containing 260mg per serving, or about 26% of the daily value.
The Yoplait yogurt greek variety contains 15-16% of the daily calcium value, while the light variety contains 19-21%.
In addition to calcium, Yoplait yogurt contains moderate vitamin D levels, making it good for your bones health.
How much sodium is in Yoplait yogurt?
Yoplait yogurt(original) is low in sodium containing 75 to 115mg per serving, depending on the flavor. That’s about 7% of the daily ideal sodium limit.
The light and greek varieties are even lower in sodium containing 55g per serving and 75mg per serving, respectively.
While sodium is essential to a diet, consuming too much can lead to heart-related issues.
Yoplait Yogurt is low in sodium, not containing even 10% of the ideal daily requirement.
This makes it ideal for those following a low-sodium diet.
Is Yoplait Yogurt good for weight loss?
Yoplait yogurt(original) is not good for weight loss due to it’s high sugar content. However, the Yoplait yogurt light and greek varieties are low in added sugar and can be included in a weight loss diet.
Additionally, the light and greek varieties are lower in calories, making them a good addition to weight loss.
However, it’s worth noting that despite being low in added sugar, Yoplait yogurt light and greek varieties do contain moderate natural sugar. If eaten excessively, they can hinder your weight loss efforts.
Remember that weight loss doesn’t depend on one specific food but on your overall diet and level of physical activity.
Is Yoplait Yogurt good for diabetics? Yoplait yogurt can be a good option for people with diabetes as long as only the light, and greek varieties are consumed. These varieties are low in added sugar and high in protein. However, it’s still important to consume them in moderation.
Does Yoplait yogurt have probiotics?
All the Yoplait yogurt varieties are packed with probiotics(live and active cultures).
Probiotics are healthy bacteria that provide many health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts, such as healthy digestion and improved immune system.
Is Yoplait Yogurt good for cholesterol? Yoplait Yogurt is low in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, making it good for individuals with cholesterol problems. The Original variety contains just 1g of fat and 5mg of cholesterol, while the light and greek varieties are fat-free with less than 5mg of cholesterol.
Is Yoplait Yogurt gluten-free?
Yoplait Yogurt is gluten-free as it is made from cultured low-fat milk as the main ingredient. Also, there is no other ingredient that may contain gluten.
Is Yoplait yogurt lactose-free?
The regular varieties of Yoplait yogurt, such as original, light, and greek are not lactose-free. However, there is a lactose-free variety available in two flavors: Strawberry and French vanilla.
These lactose-free flavors contain lactase enzyme as an ingredient that helps digest milk and milk-based products for people who are lactose intolerant.
Is Yoplait Yogurt vegan?
Yoplait Yogurt is not vegan-friendly as it contains vitamin D3 and kosher gelatin, which may be derived from animals.
Every Yoplait yogurt is fortified with vitamin D3. However, the source of vitamin D3 is not officially specified anywhere.
Therefore, it might likely be sourced from animals such as sheep’s wool.
Additionally, Yoplait Yogurt contains kosher gelatin that helps to improve the consistency and texture of the Yogurt.
However, the kosher gelatin is derived from the collagen of animals making it unsuitable for those following a vegan diet.
Furthermore, some Yoplait yogurt flavors, such as strawberry also contain carmine(for color), which is usually made by grinding up cochineal beetles.
However, this carmine present in Yoplait yogurt is natural derived from the cochineal beetle’s dried shells.
So there’s no problem with the carmine.
Final words
Yoplait yogurt is a good source of protein(especially the greek variety), calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A. In addition, it does not contain any artificial colors and flavors, which is a bonus.
However, it’s important to note that Yoplait’s yogurt original variety is high in sugar, which can be a concern if you’re watching your sugar intake.
In this case, you can opt for Yoplait’s light and Greek varieties, which are low in sugar, making them a healthier option.
However, these varieties contain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame potassium. As a result, it’s still essential to consume Yoplait yogurt in moderation.
In short, eating Yoplait yogurt can be healthy as long as you choose the right variety and consume it in moderation.
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