10 Best Greek Yogurts in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by Nutritionist-Dietitian

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Know the difference between Greek and Greek-style.
2. Choose between plain or flavored Greek yogurt.
3. Check the label for the nutrition facts.
4. Select the size and quantity based on consumption.

When you run through the shelves of the grocery or browse products in online shops, you will see or might have seen Greek and Greek-style yogurt. Though both have a similar creamy texture with a tart taste, you might be wondering what their exact differences are. 

Greek yogurt has a creamy consistency because it has undergone a series of straining processes. Real Greek yogurt contains no preservatives and additives, so it is the best choice healthwise, though it should be properly stored inside the refrigerator or freezer for a longer shelf life from 1 week up to 2 months. 

Greek yogurt is a bit pricey, so people turn to cheaper alternatives like Greek-style yogurt. It has a similar texture to the former, but it has not been strained. Instead, the creamy consistency is achieved by adding artificial thickeners like gelatin and gum. These also have preservatives and additives that contribute to their longer shelf life. 

Greek yogurts come in plain, unsweetened, and sweetened variants. There are also available options for flavored ones to tickle your taste buds and add a depth of taste. When choosing which one to get, you should always keep in mind how you will use or consume them. 

Greek yogurt without flavoring can be paired with fresh fruits, oats, and granola for a healthy snack, dessert, or as a meal. If you want to enjoy it on its own, you may go for a lightly sweetened variant or add any of your preferred sweeteners to curb the acidity.

Plain Greek yogurt can also be used in cooking to add creaminess into savory dishes like soups, dips, salad dressings, and more as a substitute for milk. In addition, it can be used for baking to achieve moist pastries, as well as a meat tenderizer in marinades. 

Like regular yogurt, Greek yogurt also comes in different flavors, usually of fruit, since they are the most common food to pair them with. This makes it good to enjoy on its own, especially if you want the taste of fruits but don’t have any fresh ones that are readily available.

A flavored Greek yogurt is best for people who find plain variants to be too sour or acidic since the additional flavor helps mask the sourness. It can also be enjoyed by kids who love sweet ice cream. Do note that with the added flavor comes a higher sugar content. 

Even if Greek yogurt is considered a healthy food, it is still important to read the label for the nutrition facts. This way, you'll know the amount of protein, sugar, and saturated fat each product has. You will be able to get the best one that matches your dietary needs.

The amount of protein an adult must consume in a day depends on their weight and activity. According to the Dietary Reference Intake, one should have 0.36 grams of protein per pound or 0.8 grams per kg of body weight. A sedentary adult should have 46 grams for women and 56 grams per day for men.

If you work out and lift weights regularly to gain muscle, you will need 0.7–1 gram per pound or 1.6–2.2 grams per kg. Aside from these, protein also boosts metabolism, which helps burn calories at a faster rate even when resting. You can get protein from meat, eggs, fish, legumes, and dairy products like Greek yogurt. 

Sugar that is naturally present in fresh produce is not bad, while added sugars must be kept at a minimum since they have no nutritional value. According to the American Heart Association, an average woman should have at most 6 teaspoons or 25 grams of added sugar per day, while for male adults, they should have at most 9 teaspoons or 37.5 grams.

Checking the sugar content of the food you eat is a good practice. Greek yogurts have unsweetened variants if you do not want added sugar, while flavored and sweetened options have more sugar. Having sweet food on a regular basis is fine as long as you do not exceed the maximum amount.

A healthy balance of low fat and full cream is recommended to incorporate in your daily meals, rather than sticking to just one variant in zero, low, or full cream. For example, if you are eating mostly full-cream dairy products, it is suggested to get low or non-fat Greek yogurts.

On the other hand, if you are currently eating low-fat food, you may go for a full cream variant. One should have 1 to 3 servings of dairy per day, with just 2 to 3 grams of saturated fat for each time. In a day, you can have up to 20 grams of saturated fat. 

One healthy serving of Greek yogurt amounts to 110 grams or 5 to 6 tablespoons. If you are keen on following the recommended serving, you may get a bigger size - around 500 grams of Greek yogurt, because it is easier to manage your consumption. Thus, you will not be forced to eat the whole single cup.

Single cups are compact yet may contain a bit more than the recommended serving, so take of this, especially if you are counting your calorie intake. Also, buying single cups is preferable for people who want more variety and different flavors.

If single cups are the only ones available, it's best to buy a set of your favorite flavor. However, do not buy too much and always read the label to check the best before or expiration dates.

To give you a rundown, here are our top 5 picks for the best Greek yogurts you can buy online:

1. Best overall: DVF Dairy Farm Carabao's Milk Greek-Style Yogurt
2. Best Turkish-style Greek Yogurt: Baba's Plain Unsweetened Yogurt
3. Best local Greek yogurt: Rizal Dairy Farms Greek Yoghurt
4. Best for yogurt bowls: Bulla Dairy Greek Style Yogurt
5. Best low-fat greek yogurt: Pinkie's Farm Low Fat Unsweetened Yogurt

The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.

Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, Samantha Morales, RND, is not affiliated with, nor is she endorsing any of the brands we mention below.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.

Greek yogurt provides high levels of calcium and protein, best for an after-workout meal for muscle recovery and bone health. It is a filling snack that can help you feel satiated, thus reducing the calorie intake per day. It also has probiotics from good bacteria to keep a healthy digestive system.

It is also a good option for people who are lactose intolerant but cannot seem to give up dairy. Greek yogurt can be consumed by vegetarians or those who want alternative sources of nutrients like protein, calcium, and vitamin B12 other than meat products. 

Yogurt is basically fermented dairy. Regular yogurt is done by heating milk, adding bacteria like Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, and letting the mixture ferment to a 4.5 acidic pH. In the process, lactose or naturally occurring sugar in the milk is converted to lactic acid.

Greek yogurt is essentially strained yogurt. Through the straining process, it reduces the amount of water, lactose, and minerals. The end product has less sugar and a creamier texture with increased carbohydrates.  It has a sour taste compared to the regular yogurt that is on the sweeter side.  

Yes. Greek yogurt has more calories but has almost double the amount of protein than regular yogurt. It also has significantly fewer carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium. So, if you have to choose between regular and Greek, then it is better to go for Greek yogurt.

Of course, Greek yogurt, whether plain or flavored, can be enjoyed on its own. But if you are looking for something to go with your Greek yogurt, check out the best granolas, cereals, and other healthy snacks through the links below!

Author: Patricia Catimpo

Re-editor: Tm Yuquimpo

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Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.