Experts Love This Protein-Packed and Gut-Friendly Breakfast Choice
Not all yogurts are created equal—experts weigh in on which is best for breakfast.
Reported by Vogue.
Eggs have had their moment as the undisputed queen of the high-protein breakfast — but there's a whole refrigerated aisle worth of competition, and it's time to take it seriously. Yogurt, across its many forms, delivers protein, gut-supporting probiotics, and calcium in a format that requires exactly zero cooking. The catch? Not all yogurt is created equal, and the difference between varieties is more significant than most people realize.
According to Vogue, plain whole-milk yogurt clocks in at around 6.49 grams of protein per six-ounce serving (per USDA data) — solid, but just the starting point. Greek yogurt, which goes through an extra straining process to remove liquid whey, bumps that number to 14.9 grams for the same serving size. It does trade some calcium in the process — 189 milligrams versus 216 in plain — but for sheer protein density, it pulls ahead. Then there's kefir, the drinkable fermented option made with both yeast and bacteria, landing somewhere between 7 and 10 grams per cup with a calcium advantage over its thicker counterparts.
The Icelandic Option That Outperforms Them All
Skyr is the variety quietly winning this competition. Technically a fresh cheese consumed like yogurt — made from skimmed milk and lactic cultures, no yeast involved — it has a higher concentration of solids and protein than Greek yogurt, explained nutritionist Laura Parada to Vogue. A 5.3-ounce serving of traditional Icelandic skyr contains 17 grams of protein, roughly a third of the recommended daily value. "If what you are looking for is a satiating breakfast, rich in protein and low in fat, this can be a great option," Parada said. Hard to argue with that math.
Whichever variety you land on, the rules are consistent: go plain, skip the added sugar (check the label — it hides everywhere), and build on top of it. Nutritionist Luisa Werner recommends pairing Greek yogurt or skyr with berries for antioxidants and nuts for zinc and vitamin E — both of which, she noted to Vogue, directly support skin health. Suddenly your breakfast is doing double duty as a skincare move.
The bottom line: yogurt is one of the lowest-effort, highest-return breakfasts available — just make sure you're choosing the right kind for your goals.
Read the original at Vogue.
