Is Flavored Yogurt Unhealthy? Nutrition Experts Explain

Yogurt is one of the healthiest snacks out there—if you choose the right one.

Packed with protein, yogurt’s a great source of probiotics, calcium, and vitamin B12, but when you add in flavoring or extra sugars, the breakfast staple can start to look a lot like dessert.

Confused about whether your favorite flavored yogurt is healthy or not? Keep reading to see what actually makes a yogurt a good-for-you option—and how to pick the best one.

The hard truth: Sometimes what makes yogurt tasty—added sugars, artificial flavors—can also make it less healthy.

When picking out a yogurt at the grocery store, check the nutrition label and ingredients list, and steer clear of red-flags like:

Excess added sugars

The nutrition label and ingredients list is your source of truth here—make sure to check both the total sugars and added sugars.

Look at the ingredients list too. Added sugars can come in many different forms, but high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, and fruit concentrate are some examples to look out for and avoid.

Artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors

Certain artificial add-ins (flavorings, sweeteners, etc.) have been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Artificial flavoring is often identified by vague phrases like “artificial flavor” or “natural flavor,” while some common artificial sweeteners include aspartame and acesulfame potassium (acesulfame-K).

For artificial coloring, steer clear of ingredients like Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 4, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6; instead, opt for yogurts that use beetroot powder or curcumin for coloring agents.

Gums and Thickeners

The thickness and consistency of your yogurt might depend on certain gums and thickeners—ingredients that may be better to avoid. (For example, the thickener carrageenan has been linked to digestive woes and inflammation.)

Your best bets? Look for natural, unprocessed additives in yogurt, such as chickpea, moringa, date palm, and lentil flour.

Yogurt is considered a healthy food for a reason: Once you get rid of all the unnecessary fillers, yogurt is a great source of calcium, protein, and probiotics.

Choosing a healthy yogurt starts with reading the nutrition information and ingredients label—here’s what to look for:

A short ingredients list

For a healthy yogurt, you want as few ingredients as possible. The healthiest options tend to have just two or three ingredients: pasteurized milk, cream, and live active cultures.

As much protein as possible

A high-protein yogurt can keep you feeling full and manage your blood sugar levels.

Most high-protein yogurts contain at least 10 grams of protein per serving—but some, like Greek or Icelandic yogurts, can pack anywhere from 12–20 grams of protein per serving. Those are the ones to choose if you really want a protein boost.

Proof of probiotics

Remember those live active cultures from the ingredients list? Those are proof of probiotics—gut-healthy bacteria that are both naturally present in and added to yogurt.

Some common strains of probiotics in yogurt include Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium (also known as bifidus), and Lacticaseibacillus casei.

Probiotics have been shown to boost the immune system, relieve or treat gastrointestinal symptoms, and even possibly prevent cancer.

Little to no added sugars

Ideally, yogurts should contain no added sugar or be low in added sugar.

For reference, added sugars should make up less than 6% of your daily calories—in women, that works out to 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day; for men, that’s 36 grams (9 teaspoons).

If you do buy a yogurt containing sweetener, opt for naturally sourced sweeteners—some of which are zero sugar—instead, like stevia and monk fruit.

Yogurt can be an incredibly. healthy addition to your diet—but not all yogurts are created equal.

While flavored yogurt can be a healthy choice, it should also contain a good amount of protein and probiotics and have no (or minimal) added sugars.

The best option? Don’t treat yogurt like a dessert—choose an unflavored, unsweetened option and sweeten it up on your own with natural ingredients like fruit or a touch of honey.