Is Frozen Yogurt Healthier Than Ice Cream? 

Ice cream has been a favorite dessert for people of all age groups. No matter what end of the spectrum you belong to, there are high chances that you are fond of ice creams and can’t get enough of them. Especially during summers, when the heat is at its peak, ice cream is probably one of those few things that offer some respite.

However, ice cream has not been considered the healthiest of all things in the domain of desserts. It contains a lot of calories and fat which could result in increased sugar level and increase in weight as well.

As an alternative to ice creams, frozen yogurt was launched in the food industry several years ago. While it has been a while since it has been in the market, not a lot of people are aware of it in-depth, since it’s not generally available at normal shops. Some people are unable to even differentiate it from the usual ice cream. 

If you are a sweets aficionado, you should understand the difference between ice cream and yogurt and know if frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream. Even though they might seem similar and belonging to the same family, there is a significant difference between ice cream and frozen yogurt in terms of ingredients used in there preparation as well as the nutrient content.

While it’s not imperative to know the difference, it’s beneficial if you are standing in a dessert parlor confused between ice cream and frozen yogurt, unable to decide because you don’t know what each of them is made of.

Ingredients

Ice creams, generally, are made of cream. They can be made of milk and eggs as well, but the cream is the most common and universal ingredient of ice cream.

Frozen yogurt, on the other hand, is made of cultured milk and there is no additional cream added. Cultured milk, like yogurt, goes through a freezing process to convert it into frozen yogurt. Frozen yogurt might also have corn syrup, gelatin, and more such ingredients.

Calories

Both ice cream and frozen yogurt are made from dairy items – cream, milk, and eggs. However, their calorie content differs on the basis of the material used and the quantity of the material. If both are made from whole fat dairy, then both ice cream and frozen yogurt will have similar calorie contents. However, if the ice cream is made with cream and frozen yogurt is made with cultured milk, ice cream is bound to contain higher calories. 

For instance, one serving of banana frozen yogurt contains 121 calories while the same size cup of ice cream, specifically vanilla, consists of 130 calories. Even if you take the low-fat version of both raw materials, the difference between the two will still be 30-40 calories.

Fat

Ice cream usually contains more fat than frozen yogurt. This is because ice cream is made of cream while the latter is made from cultured milk. One cup of vanilla ice cream contains about 14 grams of fat. Regular ice cream, as opposed to the low-fat, no-fat, no-dairy ice cream, contains 10% of milk fat.

Live Cultures

Ice cream contains no bacterial cultures. On the other hand, frozen yogurt contains probiotics, healthy bacterial cultures that help keep the body’s immune system intact, improves digestion, prevents diarrhea and is also good for health for people who are lactose intolerant. Therefore, frozen yogurt isn’t exactly just a snack, considering all its health benefits.

It contains various cultures at the time of manufacturing since yogurt contains these live cultures. However, most of the cultures get damaged when the yogurt goes through the freezing process. Yet, even with all the damage, frozen yogurt is still healthier than ice cream.

Sugar Content

Generally, one cup of ice cream contains 30 grams of sugar. However, the amount greatly varies as per the brand and the flavor. Here, the case is almost similar to frozen yogurt. The sugar level ranges between 15 grams to 40 grams usually. But even this content is variable depending on the process and the extra flavor added.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body which is released during the digestion of food when starch breaks down. A one-half serving of a banana-flavored frozen yogurt contains 22 grams of carbohydrates while the same serving of vanilla ice cream contains 17 grams of carbohydrates.

When we’re deciding between eating a frozen yogurt versus ice cream, yogurt seems to appear healthier due to using milk and yogurt rather than cream and eggs as in ice cream.

Healthy for Diabetic and Lactose Intolerant

Frozen yogurt, on account of it containing live cultures at the time of manufacturing, is healthy for people suffering from diabetes as well as for lactose-intolerant people. The probiotics present in the yogurt build up in the immune system and break down lactose into easily digestible parts that do not cause digestive problems.

Sodium

Sodium is an important part of the everyday diet and should be taken each day since it’s an essential nutrient, without over-consuming it. Excess of sodium can also create a problem like high blood pressure and heart-related issues. Ice cream and frozen yogurt almost have the same quantity of sodium. Yet, frozen yogurt is healthier due to the presence of cultures in its making. 

Let’s take a final look at why frozen yogurt is healthier than ice cream.

Thus, while ice cream does rule the dessert world, it is important to keep in mind the health variations between that and frozen yogurt so that you can make the right choice the next time.