Carbs Count of Plain, Full Fat Yogurt

[valf]

Lately, I've read a couple articles stating the lactic acid in plain yogurt eats the natural milk sugars, reducing the true carb count to 4 per cup (container states 15 per cup). Have you done any research on this? Can I believe it?
Thank you!
Val

[valf]

This is one of the articles I have read. But do a search on Atkins' site and he repeatedly says yogurt is too high in carbs.
Val

[AussieRozzie]

Hi there,

I have seen this statement that the carbs are "eaten" refuted elsewhere.

This is from the Active Low Carber board: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=138905

I thought I'd seen something along those lines on Atkins.com, but have been searching and cannot find it.

I'll be very interested to see the response from the Atkins Nutritionist.

[Diana]

I drain mine for 24 hours in a reusable filter and once it is real thick I add Atkins Sugar Free Syrup to it, Yummm
I do this about once a month for a week. I always felt it has helped loss, or at least the Yeast thing...

[valf]

Bumping for response from Atkins Nutritionist.
Thanks!
Val

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

First let’s look at what yogurt actually is. Yogurt is a fermented milk product that can be made from any milk, even soy milk. A mixed culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus (or bulgaricus) and Streptococcus thermophiles (they work better together than they do separately) produce lactic acid which lowers the pH thus changing the form of the milk proteins and causing the mixture to thicken and makes it more sour. So the lactic acid ‘eating’ the natural milk sugar (lactose) is absolutely true and it’s just the process that yogurt is made. The form of the carbohydrate may change which makes it easier to digest, but the total carbohydrate content does not change. Hope that clears things up!

[Diana]

SO it could just be that we can digest it better (drained) even though the carb count is the same?
So it's not really half the carbs...?

[ellagurl]

Hmmm I am wondering. I have a hoods carb countdown smoothie here (Atkins approved) with 3g of net carbs. There are 4 total...with 1g subtracted for Organic acids. It seems like if they can net 1 carb for a smootie, the "net" from "yo-cheese" would be the same, its just harder to tell how much organic acids you are actually getting in the strained yogurt.

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

When I stated that we digest it better, I was referring to why those who are lactose intolerant can still enjoy yogurt but not milk since lactose intolerant people lack the enzyme lactase which breaks down lactose, but in yogurt, the lactose is already broken down.

The Hood yogurts and smoothie have organic acids that, like sugar alcohols, they have minimal impact on blood sugar so they are subtracted out when calculating Net Carbs. These organic acids are components of dairy foods. The way this is calculated is explained on the label, just as it is in all Atkins brand products.

[glasnost]

Hmmm.... I donno. I truly believe a lot of the carbs are eaten away. I eat plain, whole milk yogurt (not drained) on a very regular basis and I do not gain on it -- I either lose or maintain. This is even with brands that label the sugar content at 18 grams for a cup! I might add I'm a pretty metabolically resistant person. I think Atkins should research this topic more please!

[Atkins_Nutritionist]

Different foods affect individuals different ways due to an endless number of factors, but a reason why you are able to include yogurt is likely not that the carbs are eaten away. They may change form (disaccharide to monosaccharide), but it contradicts principles of food science for them to disappear. The Atkins Foundation (totally separate from Atkins Nutritionals) fund research studies on controlled carb diets, but these studies are typically on weight loss, lipids, and other whole body effects, and are not specifically on food science. Hope that clears things up!

[evilellie999]

I just bought some Atkins yogurt and I noticed the sugar level is a lot less than other brands--only 1g. However, do you think it is all right to eat this yogurt when I'm in induction?