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The Godliness of Greek Yogurt: The Benefits of Greek Yogurt

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Meghan Gibbons
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Meghan Keefe
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BC chapter.

I do not think it would be an understatement to say that BC students love Greek yogurt, and may actually have an obsession with it.  The popularity of the Chobani brand and the speed in which it flies from the dining hall into the hands of BC students could deem this smooth and silky snack a fixation among BC students.  For all you Greek yogurt gurus, there is good news.  Not only is the yogurt extremely beneficial to your health, but there are also many beauty benefits to it as well as uses for the yogurt beyond just a snack.

 

Health Benefits 

  • Greek yogurt has substantially more protein than standard American yogurt.  If you indulge in just 6-oz. of Greek yogurt, you are receiving a good 15 g of protein.  This awesome amount of protein will make you feel full and satisfied!
  • According to Hobson, Greek yogurt has one-half the sugar of unsweetened, non-fat American-style yogurt.  Through its thickening process, most of its natural sugar is removed.
  • Greek yogurt provides substantial amounts of calcium, and the calcium in yogurt is more easily absorbed due to live yogurt cultures, reports AskDrSears.com.
  • The probiotics (beneficial bacteria) in Greek yogurt balances the microflora in your gut, which can aid with digestion as well as keep you regular, says Robin Plotkin, RD, a culinary and nutrition expert. 

Beauty Benefits

  • Next time you want a refreshing facemask but don’t want to blow your budget on a derm treatment, you can rely on Greek yogurt.  According to dermatologist Hema Sundaram, MD, “Yogurt contains lactic acid which is a component in some in-office chemical peels.”  By gently exfoliating the top layers of the skin, the yogurt mask can clear up blemishes and discolorations, and may even reduce fine wrinkles.  A simple do-it-yourself mask recipe is to:
    • Mix 1 cup Greek yogurt with 2-3 drops of almond or olive oil and a tablespoon of honey
    • Apply to face, leave on for 20-30 minutes, then rinse and pat dry
    • Result: more radiant skin!
  • Yogurt can help to soothe sunburn.  All you have to do is apply the yogurt to the burn half an hour before showering.  It’ll cool you down, and it will help lessen the redness. 
  • Since yogurt is full of protein, it helps to strengthen hair follicles.  It also gives a gorgeous glow to your hair!  In addition, the enzymes in the yogurt help to fight dandruff and help to alleviate an itchy scalp.  In order to strengthen your hair, apply the yogurt to the ends of your hair before washing it.  Just let the yogurt do its magic for 10-15 minutes, and then wash your hair.
  • For all you brunettes, by simple applying a hair mask of 1 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons of cocoa, and 2 tablespoons of honey, you will get soft, shiny and deep highlights.  All you need to do is apply the mask throughout your entire hair, let it set for 30 minutes to an hour, shampoo, and then admire your gorgeous locks!
  • There are benefits for blondes, too!  If you want your blonde to stand out, just mix 2 tbsp of lemon juice with 1 cup of yogurt, apply to your hair, leave on 30 minutes and then wash as usual. 

Food for Thought
If you are looking for something creative to do with your Greek yogurt besides just mix granola in it, here are some fun and simple ideas to try out!

  • Blend yogurt with fruit for smoothies or freeze for popsicles
  • Use yogurt in baking to make cakes and quick breads with a tender, rich crumb.  Yogurt makes a great replacement for sour cream in many baked goods.
  • Substitute plain yogurt for sour cream or mayonnaise in dips and dressings.
  • Add vegetables and seasonings to plain yogurt — try cucumber, garlic, onion and dill — and serve with sliced pita wedges, steamed vegetables, or atop grilled kebabs. 

That creamy, rich and nutritious delicacy you are always snatching from the dining hall is even greater then you can image!  You can turn to it for a snack, dipping delicacy, beauty solution, and nutritious tool!
 
Sources:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20532821,00.html
http://www.crunchybetty.com/food-on-your-face-and-hair-yogurt
http://www.livestrong.com/article/233450-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-greek-yogurt/
http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2012/01/choices-count-yogurt/#more-25890
 
Photo Sources:
http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/tzatziki-sauce/
http://isaidicanshout.com/choban/
http://ecofriendlyfreckles.blogspot.com/2010/09/pamper-your-face-with-kefire-mask.html
 

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Meghan Gibbons is a double major in Communications and Political Science in her senior year at Boston College. Although originally from New Jersey, she is a huge fan of all Boston sports! Along with her at Boston College is her identical twin, who she always enjoys playing twin pranks with. Meghan is a huge foodie, book worm and beach bum
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Meghan Keefe is a senior associate on the integrated marketing team at Her Campus Media. While she was a student at Boston College, she was on the HC BC team and led as a Campus Correspondent for two semesters. After graduating and working for three years in public relations, she decided it was time to rejoin the Her Campus team. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Boston and traveling - anything that gets her outside.