by Katerina Nikolas

Created on: August 07, 2010   Last Updated: September 22, 2010

No Greek shopping basket would be complete without Greek yogurt which is a daily staple here, and an essential component of the Greek Mediterranean diet. It has been enjoyed for centuries and was traditionally produced from sheep’s or goats milk, or a blend. Commercially it is now made from cows’ milk. The whey is strained off three times to leave yogurt thick enough to stand your spoon in and is addictively good. Greek yogurt has the laudable claim of being considered one of the healthiest foods in the world.

Forget your low fat diet yogurts and fruit concoctions with added sugars. Greek yogurt is plain and natural with no artificial additives. Instead we add local honey to make an ambrosial blend. Tavernas often serve Greek yogurt with fresh fruits or walnuts, or simply honey. Now the preferred brand of Greeks is so popular in America that the Greek diary company Fage has expanded to open its own premises in America rather than exporting it. Not all Greek yogurts are created equally and Fage Total is the most popular in Greece, the thickest and creamiest.

Tzatziki is a traditional Greek dip made from yogurt, garlic, mint, cucumber and olive oil, and is served alongside most dishes. We also use it as a marinade and as a base for other dips which are served alongside bread and salads. Just as olive oil has always been revered here so is Greek yogurt and it is amazing that the runny sweet stuff that passes as yogurt in other countries can share the same name.

So what are the amazing health benefits of Greek yogurt? It has double the protein of standard yogurt which makes it a filling choice to start the day. Free of all additives and preservatives it is a totally natural live product which contains calcium, vitamins B6 and B12, and riboflavin. The probiotics it contains aid in digestion and give the body necessary good bacteria which helps boost immunity. Greek yogurt helps to build strong bones and helps in weight loss and stable weight maintenance as it is believed it collects stored fat to eliminate as it is digested.

Fage produces 0%, 2% and 5 % fat yogurts as well as the classic yogurt which is the cream of the cream. All of them can be used to create heavenly frozen yogurt ice cream which is a wonderfully healthy alternative to regular ice cream. Sometimes I just stir some honey into a tub of Greek yogurt and pop it into the freezer for a cool refreshing snack on hot summer days. Some believe that Greek yogurt is an aphrodisiac. One thing is certain and that is after tasting it you won't want to go back to other imitation yogurts.

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