Pauls Plus protein yoghurt review
Here we will give a hands-on, taste-tested review of Pauls Plus protein yoghurt. We’ll look into the benefits, ingredients, nutrition, use and flavour of this high-protein yoghurt. And we’ll compare some factors against similar high-protein yoghurts.
For this review we have tested the vanilla version.
This yoghurt is widely available in Australian supermarkets.
You might also be interested in read our article on the best high protein yoghurts in Australia.
Ingredients of Pauls Plus protein yoghurt
This is not an authentic-style yoghurt and there are quite a lot of additives - some of which are artificial or processed.
The specific ingredients in this yoghurt are: skim milk, water, milk solids, thickener (1442), flavours, lemon pulp, sweeteners (950, 955), vanilla bean, salt and live cultures (from milk).
Most concerningly, both of those sweeteners are artificial sweeteners. This is the first yoghurt we have reviewed which uses artifical sweeteners. And considering artificial sweeteners have been shown to negatively affect gut microbe composition this is not good news.
The thickener is hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate which is a chemically altered version of natural starch. This is considered safe for general consumption, but there are natural, unprocessed alternatives which could have been used.
And in case you were wondering, lemon pulp is added for either flavour or texture or to adjust the acidity.
In summary, this is indeed a processed yoghurt with added artificial sweeteners, flavours (they don’t state whether they are natural or artificial) and processed thickeners. This is in contrast to most yoghurts we have reviewed which are far more natural.
Benefits of Pauls Plus protein yoghurt
The main appeal of this yoghurt is its high protein and low fat levels. For context, we’ll compare a few key factors against Danone YoPRO yoghurt (which is a similar high protein, low fat yoghurt with a few additives) and Chobani Greek yoghurt (which is a more natural high protein yoghurt).
Nutrients
Protein: Pauls Plus is very high in protein with 10% protein. This is slightly more than YoPRO (9.5%) and Chobani (8.6%).
Fat: This yoghurt has very low fat levels at 0.2%. YoPRO has similar low fat levels (0.3%), while Chobani is much higher at 4% fat. For further context, other brands which don’t focus on protein often have around 9% fat (eg Tamar Valley Greek style yoghurt).
Calcium: Pauls Plus has moderate levels of calcium at 112mg per 100g. The other two brands are in a similar range.
Live cultures
There is no indication of the strains of live cultures present in Pauls Plus or YoPRO. Whereas Chobani has five strains of live cultures.
In terms of the amount of actual live cultures present (ie colony forming units), none of these three yoghurts give any information on this.
Read more about the benefits of probiotic foods.
Postbiotics
Postbiotics are essentially things cultures produce during fermentation. These include healthy short-chain fatty acids which nourish our gut lining and may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Our favourite gut health products in Australia
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
FixBIOME is a natural and very evidence-based supplement which is specifically designed to get your gut back into good shape. Perfect for those who need a gut reset
Read more about the best gut health products in Australia.
Appearance
As the picture below shows, it looks more like a very thick ice cream than a yoghurt. The added thickener gives it a strong rigidity.
Texture
This added thickener makes it very thick, but not in a nice creamy way given the near absence of fat.
Flavour
Its aroma is mainly of vanilla.
The taste is mainly of sweet vanilla. There’s also a chalky background which isn’t great and the acidity is quite low.
Overall, it doesn’t taste like a authentic, natural yoghurt. But the additives do make the flavour pretty okay for a high-protein, low-fat yoghurt. Whether you are willing to consume those additives for this benefit though is another question.
Use
This yoghurt would be best added to a smoothie or perhaps on cereal. On its own is also okay but I don’t find the taste really satisfying enough for this.
Cost of Pauls Plus protein yoghurt
You can buy a 700g tub from Woolworths for $7. Personally this is too expensive for what the product offers and not as good value as other brands.
Review summary
Rating: 2 stars out of 5.
Verdict: Pauls Plus protein yoghurt in not an authentic yoghurt and comes with various processed additives, including artificial sweeteners. The additives make it taste fine, but this is not worth it from a gut health perspective.
Pros
very high in protein
very low in fat
Cons
not a natural product
various processed additives, including artificial sweeteners
lacks creaminess
no information on the strains of live cultures included
no information on the actual amount of live cultures it contains (ie colony forming units)
more expensive than better alternatives
Health benefits of yoghurt
Aside from the specific benefits listed above, especially related to probiotics and postbiotics, yoghurt has some other important health benefits.
Vitamins and minerals
Yoghurt is a source of various vitamins and minerals including:
calcium - which helps digestion and supports bone and teeth health
magnesium - which supports bone health, muscle function and energy production
phosphorus - which is important for bone and teeth health and energy metabolism
potassium - which supports heart, muscle, nerve and kidney health
vitamins B2 and B12 - which support immunity, energy production and cell and nerve function
vitamin A - supports vision, immune function, cell growth and healthy skin
Satiety and weight management
The high protein and low carbohydrate content in yogurt, especially Greek style yogurt, helps you feel fuller for longer which can help control your appetite. Greek yoghurt is often recommended by dietitians for this reason.
Reduced lactose
Compared to unfermented dairy products such as milk, yoghurt has lower levels of lactose as this is partially consumed by bacteria during the fermentation process. This makes it more digestible for people who have some degree of lactose intolerance.
Our favourite gut health products in Australia
YourBiology Gut+ probiotic not only offers 10 strains of probiotics, but also includes two types of prebiotics, three digestive enzymes and vitamin D for gut health support. All this means it offers a lot more benefits for gut health and general health than most probiotic supplements do
FixBIOME is a natural and very evidence-based supplement which is specifically designed to get your gut back into good shape. Perfect for those who need a gut reset
Read more about the best gut health products in Australia.
Your reviewer
This article was reviewed by Travis, the founder of this website, long-time gut-health enthusiast, science nerd and passionate kombucha maker of over 10 years!
Related articles
