This is a question that many people ask when they are trying to watch their sodium intake. Unfortunately, the answer is not as simple as it may seem. The amount of sodium in yogurt can vary widely depending on the type of yogurt, the brand, and even the flavor.
For example, a cup of plain non-fat yogurt from a leading brand contains only 50 mg of sodium. However, the same size cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt from the same brand contains 190 mg of sodium. And, a cup of non-fat strawberry yogurt from another popular brand has 230 mg of sodium.
As you can see, the amount of sodium in yogurt can vary quite a bit. If you are watching your sodium intake, be sure to check the labels on the yogurts that you purchase to see how much sodium they contain.
If you want to see more examples, we’ve listed both low sodium yogurts and high sodium yogurts that you can buy at a grocery store.
How much sodium is in yogurt on average?
Based on our data analysis, an average yogurt product contains about 48 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams of yogurt.
However, this varies based on the type of yogurt like we previously explained. Let’s break this number down a bit. The amounts below are averages.
- Regular (non-greek, flavored) yogurt: 67 mg
- Greek (flavored) yogurt: 34 mg
How much sodium in plain yogurt?
The amount of sodium also depends on how fatty milk is used to make the yogurt. As a rule of thumb, the fatter the milk the less sodium it has. Let’s have a look at plain yogurts for example.
- Plain whole milk yogurt: 46 mg
- Plain low fat milk yogurt: 70 mg
- Plain skim milk yogurt: 77 mg
Why does yogurt have sodium?
Sodium is a mineral that is found in many foods. It is needed for the body to function properly. However, too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
The sodium in yogurt comes from the milk that is used to make it. Milk naturally contains sodium. When yogurt is made, this sodium is concentrated.
How much sodium in a cup of yogurt?
Cup is a cooking measure commonly used in the US. One cup is equal to 236.6 millilitres, which translates roughly to about 245 grams of yogurt.
So, on average, a cup of yogurt will contain about 118 milligrams of sodium.
Is this a lot?
It depends on your perspective. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that adults consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and ideally less than 1,500 mg per day for most adults.
So, one cup of yogurt represents about 8% of the AHA’s daily recommended sodium intake.
Of course, this is just an average and the amount of sodium in yogurt can vary quite a bit.