9 Benefits of Greek Yogurt for Your Health

If you're only eating yogurt with your morning granola, you might be missing out on all the amazing benefits of Greek yogurt!

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Greek yogurt in a ceramic bowl with spoons on wooden background
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Feel Fuller For Longer

What makes Greek yogurt different from the regular kind? They’re both rich in probiotics, calcium, vitamins and minerals, but Greek yogurt is strained to remove most of the whey. The result is a thicker, creamier yogurt with twice the protein content, filling you up and keeping you full for longer.

Find our favorite recipes to make with Greek yogurt.

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A bowl of greek yogurt
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Improve Mental Health

You may know that probiotics can improve your gut health, but did you know those benefits extend to your mental health as well? Studies have shown that adding probiotics to your diet (like those found in Greek yogurt) can reduce stress and anxiety.

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Healthy yogurt with mix of berry, selective focus
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Detoxify Your Skin

Adding a serving of Greek yogurt to your daily routine can do wonders for your skin. It’s rich in vitamins B2, B6 and B12, plus the probiotics help keep your colon healthy. It all comes together to put less stress on your skin to eliminate waste, giving you the glow you deserve.

Give your morning yogurt an extra boost by swirling in a little honey to benefit from its antibacterial properties!

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Top view of yogurt in wooden bowl on green leaves background
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Actively Fight Acne

If your daily dose of yogurt isn’t doing enough for your skin, take the fight directly to acne by applying Greek yogurt to breakouts. Dab yogurt directly on acne before going to bed and wash it off in the morning.

Psst! This is how often you should eat yogurt.

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Danger of sunburn in direct bright sunshine
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Soothe Sunburn

Don’t have any aloe on hand? Greek yogurt is one of our favorite homemade options for sunburn relief! It’s rich in zinc, and the probiotics can help rebuild your skin’s natural barrier. Simply apply a thin layer to your sunburn and gently dab it off after 10 minutes.

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Closeup of woman hands holding a bowl with nourishing mask for applying to hair or skin
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Breathe New Life Into Your Hair

The protein in yogurt will help keep your hair healthy from the inside out, but you can also condition seriously damaged hair with a yogurt mask! Combine two tablespoons of Greek yogurt with a tablespoon of honey and 1/4 teaspoon of coconut oil. Leave it on your hair for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing.

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Greek yogurt granola and blueberries on blue table top view.
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Get Rid of Dandruff

Itchy scalp getting you down? Greek yogurt is chock-full of enzymes to help reduce your irritation, and its anti-fungal properties can get rid of the fungus that causes dandruff. Massage 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt into your scalp and rinse it clean using regular shampoo.

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Plain yogurt
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Reduce Wrinkles

If you weren’t a yogurt convert before, you should be by now! The lactic acid in Greek yogurt exfoliates your skin, reducing the signs of aging and leaving you with lighter, brighter skin. Make a rejuvenating face mask for under $1 by combining 2 tablespoons of yogurt with 1 tablespoon of oats. Gently massage it into your skin and let sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

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Yogurt with granola, strawberry and blueberry.
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Get Rid of Puffy, Dark Eyes

The best way to get rid of dark eyes is to get a better night’s sleep, but you can use yogurt to reduce symptoms you while you get there. The anti-inflammatory properties reduce puffiness while the lactic acid reduces the dark under-eye appearance. Gently dab the yogurt on and it’ll work wonders in only 10 minutes.

Lindsay D. Mattison
Lindsay has been writing for digital publications for seven years and has 10 years of experience working as a professional chef. She became a full-time food writer at Taste of Home in 2023, although she’s been a regular contributor since 2017. Throughout her career, Lindsay has been a freelance writer and recipe developer for multiple publications, including Wide Open Media, Tasting Table, Mashed and SkinnyMs. Lindsay is an accomplished product tester and spent six years as a freelance product tester at Reviewed (part of the USA Today network). She has tested everything from cooking gadgets to knives, cookware sets, meat thermometers, pizza ovens and more than 60 grills (including charcoal, gas, kamado, smoker and pellet grills). Lindsay still cooks professionally for pop-up events, especially when she can highlight local, seasonal ingredients. As a writer, Lindsay loves sharing her skills and experience with home cooks. She aspires to motivate others to gain confidence in the kitchen. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking with fresh produce from the farmers market or planning a trip to discover the best new restaurants.