Regular yogurt (lowfat) vs Kefir (lowfat)

The short answer

Both are cultured, lowfat dairy with live cultures. Yogurt is thick and spoonable; kefir is thinner, drinkable and typically carries a wider range of cultures. Very close on calories and protein — yogurt for a bowl, kefir for a pour or a smoothie base.

Regular yogurt (lowfat) and Kefir (lowfat), per 100 g and per portion. A gap means USDA has no value for it — not zero.

Regular yogurt (lowfat) · per 100 gKefir (lowfat) · per 100 g
Calories6343
Protein5.3 g3.8 g
Fat1.6 g1 g
Carbs7 g4.8 g
Fiber0 g0 g
Sugars7 g4.6 g
Sodium70 mg40 mg
Vitamins & minerals — where both carry data
Calcium183 mg130 mg
Folate11 µg13 µg
Iron0.1 mg0 mg
Magnesium17 mg12 mg
Niacin0.1 mg0.2 mg
Phosphorus144 mg105 mg
Potassium234 mg164 mg
Riboflavin0.2 mg0.1 mg
Thiamin0 mg0 mg
Vitamin A14 µg171 µg
Vitamin B120.6 µg0.3 µg
Vitamin B60 mg0.1 mg
Vitamin C0.8 mg0.2 mg
Vitamin D0 µg1 µg
Vitamin E0 mg0 mg
Vitamin K0.2 µg0.1 µg
Zinc0.9 mg0.5 mg
At equal calories (per 100 kcal)
ProteinRegular yogurt (lowfat): 8.3 g, Kefir (lowfat): 8.8 g · FiberRegular yogurt (lowfat): 0 g, Kefir (lowfat): 0 g · SodiumRegular yogurt (lowfat): 111.1 mg, Kefir (lowfat): 93 mg

USDA-branded reference (LIFEWAY) — the only kefir in USDA’s data; a typical plain lowfat kefir, not a chosen brand.

Generic USDA foods (not brands), so both carry micronutrients. Numbers are per 100 g unless the portion toggle is on. USDA FoodData Central, as of 2026-08-12.

Common questions
Is Regular yogurt (lowfat) or Kefir (lowfat) better?

Neither is “better” on its own — it depends what you want from it. The table shows where each is higher; the short answer says when each one fits. Compare on the same basis (per 100 g) and pick for your dish and your goal.

How were these numbers worked out?

Straight from USDA FoodData Central for the generic form of each food, per 100 g. We show the portion view too, but portion sizes differ between foods, so per 100 g is the fair comparison.

Why does one column say “no data”?

Because USDA has no value for that nutrient in that food — so we leave it blank rather than print a 0 that would read as “none”. A real zero from USDA still shows as 0.

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