Kiddipedia
The healthy eating space is crowded, chaotic and confusing as heck, with consensus on what is good for your family often feeling blurred at best.
In fact, a new nationwide YouGov survey in partnership with Vaalia has revealed that most Australians could benefit from knowing more about the health benefits of basic everyday foods – particularly dairy and yoghurt. So we asked accredited practising dietitian Jaime Rose Chambers to bust the biggest myths around yoghurt.
Myth 1: All yoghurt contains probiotics
Chambers says: Many people don’t realise that not all yoghurts contain probiotics and not all probiotics are created equal. Only certain strains of probiotic bacteria have been scientifically proven to boost gut health and immunity by populating the gut with healthy bacteria, which reinforce the intestinal border and prime the immune system. When choosing your yoghurt, make sure it specifies on the package ‘live and active cultures’ to make sure the probiotics will survive the journey through your gut where they can do their magic. You also want to choose a yoghurt that contains a minimum of 10,000,000 CFU (colony forming units), which is found on the nutrition panel, to make sure you’re consuming enough of those probiotics. Still unsure? Try Vaalia, a superior, nutritionally gold standard yoghurt that’s undergone extensive scientific research on the probiotic strains it contains, showing that consuming it regularly can help to boost digestion and immunity.
Myth 2: You should avoid yoghurt when congested
Chambers says: Avoiding yoghurt when blocked up or sick with a cold or flu is unnecessary and you may miss out on the nutrients yoghurt delivers when needed most. The same applies for avoiding it when you have an upset stomach.
Myth 3: Non-dairy yoghurt is healthier than dairy yoghurt
Chambers says: Dairy yoghurt is a rich source of nutrition and contains high quality protein. It’s also an excellent source of calcium and vitamin B12 in comparison to non-dairy yoghurts like soy, almond and coconut generally, which have very little protein, are often much higher in fat and don’t naturally contain calcium unless fortified.
Myth 4: You shouldn’t have yoghurt if lactose intolerant
Chambers says: If you’re lactose-intolerant you can still eat yoghurt, just choose a dairy-based lactose-free yoghurt. If you must choose plant-based, make sure it’s calcium fortified and you’re getting your protein from elsewhere in your diet.
Myth 5: Yoghurt has added sugar
Chambers says: Yoghurt contains naturally occurring sugar in the form of lactose so a ‘plain’ or ‘natural’ yoghurt with no additional sugars added to it will have around 5 grams of sugar per 100g. The sugar content of flavoured yoghurts will vary from brand to brand due to the addition of sugar or fruit juice concentrate and come in at around 12-16 grams per 100g. Which yoghurt you choose to use is based on flavour preferences, how you use your yoghurt and the overall energy/sugar content of your diet.
Myth 6: You should pour the liquid out on top of your yoghurt
Chambers says: That strange liquid is actually whey, which naturally separates out from the yoghurt. Whey is the part of milk products that contains protein and calcium so don’t throw that precious liquid away.
Myth 6: Kids and adults should eat different yoghurts
Chambers says: The same considerations apply for kids and adults when it comes to choosing yoghurts, that is opting for high amounts of live and active cultures and being mindful of the added sugar content. Vaalia yoghurt is a natural source of calcium for bone health, particularly important for kids who are still growing and women as they age due to the loss of bone mass after menopause.
