A Delicious And Healthy Way To Use Greek Yogurt
Diabetics are only allowed to consume 45 to 60 grams per day of carbohydrates per single meal. Therefore, snacks must range from 15 to 30 grams. However, with nonfat Greek yogurt, you can consume 7 to 12 grams per day of carbohydrates. Hence, it is easy to integrate them into your meals.
You can also use Greek yogurt in different mouth-watering recipes. For example, in place of sour cream, you can use Greek yogurt in your dips and combine them with baked potatoes. It’s also great to eat in the mornings as breakfast combined with breakfast cereals.
You can also try yogurt in sugar-free desserts. Mix a handful of chopped walnuts and a teaspoon of honey into a container of nonfat plain yogurt. For more flavor, you can use an extract of almond or vanilla.
You can get a nice treat without having harmful carbs.
Benefit No : Yogurt May Help Prevent Osteoporosis
Adequate nutrition plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, and the micronutrients of greatest importance are calcium and vitamin D, says Jeri Nieves, PhD, MS, director of bone density testing at New Yorkâs Helen Hayes Hospital.
Calcium has been shown to have beneficial effects on bone mass in people of all ages, although the results are not always consistent, says Nieves, also an assistant professor of clinical epidemiology at Columbia University.
The combination of calcium and vitamin D has a clear skeletal benefit, provided the dose of vitamin D is sufficiently high, she adds.
And what qualifies as sufficiently high?
Currently, 400 IU per day is considered an adequate intake of vitamin D for people ages 51-70, Nieves says. But more may be better.
This amount is likely to be sufficient for most young adults for skeletal health, although many would argue that for overall health, more than the 400 IU may be required, even at these younger ages, Nieves said in an email interview.
Nieves believes that older people specifically can benefit from more vitamin D.
Many dairy products, including some yogurts, are made with added vitamin D. Find out which brands have added vitamin D by checking out the table below, and by reading labels when you shop.
Recommended Reading: Development Of Type 2 Diabetes
What About Diet Yogurts Like Mllerlights
Many diet yogurts are higher in carbs. A Müllerlight strawberry yogurt for example, contains 7.0g carbs per 100g . This means that in one 175g pot, there is the equivalent of 3 teaspoons of sugar with no fat and less protein to help pair the carbs.
Müllerlights also contain aspartame artificial sweetener and so it is for these reasons that I advocate natural, full fat yogurts over diet alternatives such as Müllerlights.
Don’t Miss: Metformin Reactions
Survives Passage To The Gut
Dannon claims their probiotic strain “is proven to stay alive all the way from your mouth to your gut.”
Great, but will there be enough to make a difference?
Dannon claims “over 4 billion Bifidus in every 120g pot of Activia”.
That may seem a lot, but considering many dietitians suggest 12 billion a day is needed to maintain a healthy balance, you need to be eating 3 pots of Activia a day.
Benefit No : Yogurt May Reduce The Risk Of High Blood Pressure
One study, which followed more than 5,000 university graduates in Spain for about two years, found a link between dairy intake and risk of high blood pressure.
“We observed a 50% reduction in the risk of developing high blood pressure among people eating 2-3 servings of low-fat dairy a day , compared with those without any intake,” Alvaro Alonso, MD, PhD, a researcher in the department of epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, says in an email interview.
Although most of the low-fat dairy consumed by the study subjects was as milk, Alvaro believes low-fat yogurt would likely have the same effect. Dutch researchers recently reported that higher dairy consumption was modestly linked to lower blood pressure in 2064 Dutch men and women ages 50 to 75.
Also Check: Can You Use Insulin Straight From The Fridge
Jazz Up Your Natural Yogurt
There are literally tons of suitable yogurts to choose from out there, but these are just a few of the better choices above.
If you prefer flavoured yogurts, you can easily add flavour to natural/plain yogurts and have much better control over what you are eating rather than buying flavoured yogurt which may contain added sugar or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.
Heres some ideas to try:
- a few berries or cherries
- 1 x chopped kiwi
- a tablespoon of *cooked apple and cinnamon
- a tablespoon of *cooked rhubarb
- a tablespoon of *cooked gooseberries
When adding fruit to yoghurt it increases the carbohydrate content as fruits are high in fructose. The same applies to adding things like chocolate, choc shot and agave nectar
To help to pair or counter balance this additional carbohydrate you could add nuts and seeds which are packed with protein and healthy fats. You could also add a splash of real double cream.
*Cooked fruits have been broken down in the cooking process and so the sugars can be more easily absorbed. If you want to try adding cooked fruit to yogurt, ensure there has been no sugar or honey etc. added in the cooking process. We have a recipe for rhubarb crumble which explains how to cook fruit to keep the carbs minimal.
For more on food pairing please take a look at our 8 golden rules of eating which can be found here.
The Bottom Line On Activia
Before you race through the grocery store to the dairy aisle, lets take one more look at this one. We like that Activia contains some natural ingredients and that the price seems reasonable, but we have concerns about this one because the research doesnt point toward weight-loss. Were also a bit hesitant due to customers talking about negative side effects and ingredients not working.
If you want to lose those extra pounds, we suggest going with a weight-loss program thats clinically proven, so you lose weight and keep it off.
Among the best products weve seen this year is one called Noom. This weight-loss app is unlike any other with its personalized menus, human coaching, doctor-written articles, and nutritionist support. Plus, user reviews posted on the web indicate people see excellent results.
We find it shows great confidence that the makers of Noom are offering a free trial offer, which is a good sign.
You May Like: How To Know If Your Sugar Is High
Surprising Foods That Have Little Impact On Blood Sugar
From yogurt and fruit to breakfast cereal and sweet potatoes, these foods are worth a spot on your diabetes-friendly grocery list.
Next up video playing in 10 seconds
When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, one of the first changes that your doctor will recommend is cleaning up your diet. Suddenly even seemingly healthy foods are placed on a do-not-eat list. While you may start to feel like there are very few foods you can eat safely, you’ll be happy to hear that a handful of foods commonly assumed to be off-limits are actually healthy choices for those living with the condition.
These off-limits foods actually have a much lower impact on glucose levels than people think, and get the green light to include in a diabetes-friendly diet. The 10 on this list all have a low or medium glycemic load , which is a measurement that factors in a foods glycemic index and carbohydrates per serving to show how the food affects blood sugar, according to Oregon State University. Foods low on the scale break down more slowly in the body, which may produce fewer fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels. A GL of 10 or under is considered low, while 11 to 19 is medium, and 20 and above is high.
While no two people with diabetes will respond to a certain food the same way, here are 10 foods you may be surprised to learn may have little impact on blood sugar.
Live And Active Culture Seal
Activia yogurt products are particularly healthy, as they are made with billions of live and active cultures. They bear the National Yogurt Association’sLive and Active Culture Seal, which means that they contain a minimum of 100 million live cultures per gram. This means that the average 4-ounce Activia yogurt product has more than 11 billion live bacterial cultures.
When buying yogurt, you should be aware that not all yogurt products bear this seal. Yogurt products with too few cultures won’t carry this seal, nor will heat-treated products that kill their live and active cultures. Other yogurts with probiotics that bear the National Yogurt Association seal include brands like Yoplait, Yo-Plus, Yogurbella, Mountain High Yoghurt and La Yogurt.
Read more:Which Type of Yogurt Is Best? The Pros & Cons of 13 Different Kinds
You May Like: Therapeutic Effect Of Insulin
Is Splenda Good Sugar Substitute For Diabetics
Splenda is a brand name for sucralose, a non-nutritive or artificial sweetener, which is excellent for people with diabetes type 2 diabetes in particular. Splenda is 600 times sweeter than sugar, says Glassman, but those little yellow packets have no effect on blood sugar. In addition, Splenda passes through the body with minimal absorption.
Do Activia Products Have Side Effects
There have been no adverse effects or side effects reported in the studies we have done on Activia when 1 to 3 containers are eaten per day as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. However, the Activia benefit is associated with regular consumption and ceases 2-3 weeks after discontinuation of consumption. If you are not happy with the impact on your system, the effect will end after you stop eating the product.
Also Check: Glucose Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide
Worsening Symptoms Of Lactose Intolerance
This is another possible side effect of consuming excess Activia yogurt. Lactose is the major protein that is naturally found in milk. When consumed in the gut, it breaks down into digestible sugars.
For a person who has lactose intolerance, this enzyme is quite deficient. This might sound unserious, but when a person with this issue consumes Activia yogurt, there are chances of developing severe conditions.
When lactose is not digested, you might experience severe diarrhea, flatulence, and excruciating abdominal cramps. You should not use Activia products if these are some of the conditions you will experience.
Is Activia Yogurt Good For Pregnancy
Activiagood
. Beside this, can you eat probiotic yogurt when pregnant?
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is particularly beneficial for pregnant women . It contains more calcium than most other dairy products. Taking probiotic supplements during pregnancy may reduce your risk of complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, vaginal infections and allergies .
Also, does Activia help with gas and bloating? Two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies show that Activia may help reduce the frequency of minor digestive discomfort when consumed twice a day for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Minor digestive discomfort includes bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and rumbling.
are probiotics safe during first trimester?
Probiotics are probably safe during pregnancy. However, because there is a variety of probiotics and limited research, probiotics cannot be declared safe completely. The NLM and NIH concluded there does not appear to be any risk of probiotic use for expecting, or lactating, mothers.
What is probiotic yogurt?
The definition of a probiotic is âLive microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.â Yogurt is the product resulting from the culturing of milk with bacterial cultures that contain the lactic acid-producing bacteria, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus
Also Check: Does Metformin Build Up In Your System
Including Dannon Activia In Your Diet
Dannon Activia contains sugar, some of it naturally occurring, but most of it added. The vanilla and cherry flavors, for example, contain 17 grams of sugar per serving. Blueberry contains 19 grams of sugar, and the mixed berry has 18 grams. Choosing Activia Light is one way to overcome this drawback, because these flavors contain no added sugar. Other ways to boost the nutritional value of your Activia yogurt are to choose a Greek variety, which has twice as much protein as the original, or the Activia Fiber, which contains about 3 grams of fiber per serving.
Why Does Activia Need Billions Of Its Exclusive Probiotic
Since Activia was launched in 2006 it has contained billions of our exclusive probiotic in every cup. Activia yogurt’s exclusive probiotic culture was specifically selected because of its ability to survive passage through the digestive system and reach the large intestine in sufficient amounts. Two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies show that Activia may help reduce the frequency of minor digestive discomfort when consumed twice a day for two weeks as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Minor digestive discomfort includes bloating, gas, abdominal discomfort, and rumbling.
Recommended Reading: Side Effects On Metformin
Can I Eat Yogurt That Expired 2 Months Ago
The short answer is basically yes. You can eat yogurt past its expiration date or, at least, the sell-by date thats listed on the yogurts packaging. You should still be on the lookout for the signs of spoiled yogurt, though. By far the easiest way to tell if your yogurt has gone bad is if you see mold.
Read Also: What Will Diabetes Do To Your Body
Authentic Greek Yogurt Versus Greek
Greek yogurt is more beneficial than other yogurts as it is much higher in protein and unlike Skyr Icelandic style yogurt and Quark, it can also have plenty of good natural fat.
Authentic Greek yogurt is made by fermenting milk with live bacteria cultures. Greek yogurt is then strained multiple times to remove the whey and create the thick creamy texture.
Greek-style yoghurt, is not strained and often contains artificial thickeners such as gelatin or gums which are added to create a thicker, creamy texture and to give a longer shelf life. This is something to bear in mind if you are vegetarian.
Read Also: Metformin Cause Hypoglycemia
Is Homemade Yogurt Healthy
Notice I didnt ask if you ate yogurt. I asked you if you ate 24-hour probiotic yogurt. This yogurt is packed with probiotics , is bursting with vitamins and minerals, and if made from grass fed milk, has an abundance of the important beneficial fatty acid conjugated linoleic acid .
And heres something really cool. Its often well tolerated by those who are lactose intolerant because of its 24-hour fermenting process.
Unfortunately, this yogurt cant be bought in stores. You have to make it yourself. While thats not as convenient as just buying it off the shelf, consider the benefits.
In return for the hour it takes to prepare about forty-two ounces of yogurt, you get to make a great tasting food that will also add significantly to the well-being of yourself or someone you love.
You may have seen this yogurt called SCD yogurt. SCD stands for Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Elaine Gottschall popularized this yogurt in her book, Breaking The Vicious Cycle.
This yogurt is basically SCD yogurt made from grass milk, but Im going to share some tips with you that will help you make it perfect every time.
John was able to start eating 3/4 of a cup right away and saw an immediate boost in health. However, if you believe you are very dysbiotic or you have some serious gut issues, you may want to start slowly.
Therefore, concerning the consumption of probiotic yogurt for those who have severe gut issues, Gottschall states,
Ready to make some yogurt?
Which Yogurt Brand Is The Healthiest To Buy
While this is by no means a complete list, here are a few yogurt varieties that are good for you.
- Organic Stonyfield If you want to purchase organic, Stonyfield Organic is a fantastic option.
- Dannon All Natural is a brand of Dannon. Dannons All Natural yogurt brand is an excellent example of nutritious yogurt.
- Total Plain Fage
Recommended Reading: What A1c Requires Insulin
What Yogurt Has The Least Amount Of Sugar
Siggis: 9 g. Go-Gurt: 9 g. Stonyfield YoBaby: 9 g. Maple Hill Creamery: 8 g. Chobani Simply 100: 8 g. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider.Stonyfield YoKids: 8 g. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider.Yoplait Greek 100 Calories: 7 g. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider.Dannon Light & Fit Greek: 7 g. Rebecca Harrington/Tech Insider.More itemsApr 12, 2016
Can Diabetics Take Probiotics
There is no evidence to suggest that diabetics should not take probiotics – although research into this subject area is limited, there is nothing that indicates probiotics are unsafe for those with diabetes.
There is no evidence to suggest that diabetics should not take probiotics.
Diabetes is an auto-immune disease that compromises the body’s production of insulin. Type one diabetes usually occurs in younger individuals and makes up less than 15% of all cases of diabetes. Type two diabetes is much more common and tends to affect people over the age of 30.
If you, or one of your clients, are diabetic and you are ever in any doubt as to whether any natural food supplement is suitable, we must always advise consulting with their medical team. The health of those with diabetes varies, and the condition often accompanies other, more serious health issues.
However, to date, there has not been any indication that people with diabetes should avoid taking probiotics. Research into probiotics and their effects on patients with diabetes remains relatively sparse, and in particular there is very little research into use of probiotics in those with Type 1 diabetes, but so far no results have indicated that probiotics should not be taken by those with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
You can read more about diabetes and probiotics here:
Don’t Miss: Insulin Secreted By Beta Cells