It is all over the place, you can't seem to get away from it! Is it really better than regular, old yogurt? The answer is yes, but there are certain things to watch out for when you are picking up your Greek yogurt.
Greek yogurt is made by straining goat's milk (traditionally) or cow's milk (what we get at the grocery store) extensively to remove much of the whey giving it a thick and creamy texture.
Both are great and comparable sources of calcium (Greek can be slightly lower due to the way it is strained). However, Greek has less sodium, less carbs, and almost double the protein than regular yogurt (woohoo!). One thing to watch out for is Greek yogurt's fat. It can get quite high and sticking to the low or non-fat versions would be a better choice health-wise.
Now, WHAT YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR! Many brands selling Greek yogurt are simply adding thickening agents, and even cream (not so healthy anymore) to their yogurts to give it that texture and calling it "Greek" but aren't actually. These include gelatin, starches, gums, and condensed milk. Look for labels with the shortest ingredient list and none of these additives. Essentially all it should have is milk, and the active bacterial cultures. My favourite brand is Skotidakis...they have single serving size containers perfect for a snack.
References:
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2011/09/30/greek-yogurt-vs-regular-yogurt-which-is-more-healthful
http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/1550
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/20/dining/to-many-yogurt-fans-its-all-greek.html?_r=0
http://www.skotidakis.com/en/products/product-yogurt-plain-500g-0-percent.php
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