Frozen yogurt is a popular treat in many parts of the world, and can have some surprising health benefits.
What is Frozen Yogurt?
Frozen yogurt, as the name implies, is a frozen dessert product made by freezing conventional yogurt, and occasionally adding other dairy products for flavor and consistency. This is often seen as a healthier option to ice cream, given the additional health benefits that can be gained by eating yogurt. Some frozen yogurt contains live bacterial cultures, similar to regular yogurt. This product typically consists of milk fat, bacterial culture, sweeteners, milk solid and artificial flavorings or additives. Frozen Greek yogurt is another popular variety, which can provide an even healthier option for your sweet tooth. [1]
Frozen yogurt is often seen as a healthier option to ice cream. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Serving Size : Nutrient Value Water [g] 65.3 Energy 159 Energy [kJ] 665 Protein [g] 4 Total lipid (fat) [g] 5.6 Ash [g] 0.9 Carbohydrate, by difference [g] 24.2 Sugars, total including NLEA [g] 24 Calcium, Ca [mg] 143 Iron, Fe [mg] 0.3 Magnesium, Mg [mg] 14 Phosphorus, P [mg] 129 Potassium, K [mg] 211 Sodium, Na [mg] 87 Zinc, Zn [mg] 0.42 Copper, Cu [mg] 0.04 Manganese, Mn [mg] 0.01 Selenium, Se [µg] 3.3 Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid [mg] 0.8 Thiamin [mg] 0.04 Riboflavin [mg] 0.22 Niacin [mg] 0.29 Pantothenic acid [mg] 0.65 Vitamin B-6 [mg] 0.08 Folate, total [µg] 6 Folate, food [µg] 6 Folate, DFE [µg] 6 Choline, total [mg] 20.2 Vitamin B-12 [µg] 0.29 Vitamin A, RAE [µg] 59 Retinol [µg] 58 Carotene, beta [µg] 11 Vitamin A, IU [IU] 212 Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) [mg] 0.11 Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units [IU] 4 Vitamin D (D2 + D3) [µg] 0.1 Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) [µg] 0.1 Vitamin K (phylloquinone) [µg] 0.3 Fatty acids, total saturated [g] 3.42 4:0 [g] 0.18 6:0 [g] 0.1 8:0 [g] 0.06 10:0 [g] 0.14 12:0 [g] 0.16 14:0 [g] 0.57 16:0 [g] 1.52 18:0 [g] 0.68 Fatty acids, total monounsaturated [g] 1.59 16:1 [g] 0.13 18:1 [g] 1.46 Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated [g] 0.21 18:2 [g] 0.13 18:3 [g] 0.08 Cholesterol [mg] 2 Tryptophan [g] 0.05 Threonine [g] 0.17 Isoleucine [g] 0.23 Leucine [g] 0.37 Lysine [g] 0.3 Methionine [g] 0.09 Cystine [g] 0.04 Phenylalanine [g] 0.18 Tyrosine [g] 0.18 Valine [g] 0.25 Arginine [g] 0.14 Histidine [g] 0.1 Alanine [g] 0.13 Aspartic acid [g] 0.29 Glutamic acid [g] 0.79 Glycine [g] 0.08 Proline [g] 0.36 Serine [g] 0.2 Sources include : USDA [2]
Nutrition
In terms of nutrition, frozen yogurt is far better for you than ice cream, as it provides the same amount of protein and more carbohydrates, but fewer calories and less fat. A cup of this yogurt contains roughly 220 calories, 5 grams of protein, and 38 grams of carbohydrates. While ice cream has much higher levels of fat, this variety of yogurt only has 6 grams of total fat, four of which are saturated fat. [3]
Benefits
The major health benefits of frozen yogurt that contains good bacteria include its ability to boost cardiovascular health, aid in weight loss efforts, and boost nutrient intake, among others.
- Digestion, due to the presence of probiotics (bacterial culture) [4]
- Lowers the levels of lactose
- Helps in weight loss due to lower calories
- Boosts cardiovascular health
- Improves bone mineral density
- Provides important nutrients for metabolic activity
Frozen Yogurt vs Yogurt
While the two are very similar, there are a few key differences between frozen yogurt and traditional yogurt.
- Sugar: The frozen variety is higher in sugar than the non-frozen variety
- Bacteria: Many fro-yo are heat-treated at various times, which could kill the beneficial bacteria [5]
- Protein: Yogurt has a higher protein density and fewer calories
- Carbs: Yogurt has significantly fewer carbohydrates and higher concentrations of minerals
Uses
Frozen yogurt is most commonly thought of as a cold treat, and as a healthier replacement for ice cream, but it can be used in various other ways as well. Some people like to mix this treat into their smoothies or health shakes, as it can provide a tangy bite, particularly when added to berry-based recipes.
However, it is important to consume frozen yogurt in moderation, as it is relatively high in calories and sugar.
