HOW HEALTHY IS GREEK YOGHURT?

New research shows why this powerhouse food is a good choice for protein intake and gut health

- CAROLINE HOPKINS LEGASPI

Greek yoghurt doesn't necessarily come from Greece. (In fact, New York state's Greek yoghurt production surpassed Greece's in 2017.) This thick, creamy style of yoghurt is made by straining out the liquid whey. Greek yoghurt has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet for centuries.

Here's what nutrition experts have to say about why it's so good for you.

IT'S LOADED WITH PROTEIN

Straining out the whey results in a more concentrated product, which makes Greek yoghurt higher in protein than regular yoghurt. One 150g container of plain, nonfat Greek yoghurt contains 15.4g of protein, which is more than double the amount in regular yoghurt and more than a quarter of the protein that a 72.5kg adult needs daily. (Straining out the whey doesn't make Greek yoghurt more nutritious overall, however; for example, regular yoghurt typically has more calcium.)

Greek yoghurt is also a "complete" protein source, said Ethan Balk, an associate professor of clinical nutrition at New York University. This means that its protein contains all of the nine essential amino acids that your body can't make on its own.