Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt is based on regular yogurt or other types of dairy products. As the name goes, it is consumed in a frozen state, just like ice cream. Taste wise, you can identify this cold dessert by its moderate tart flavor. If you like yogurt, you will definitely love this cold, tangy dessert.

But, what about frozen yogurt nutritional value? Is it a healthier alternative to ice cream? If yes, what are the health benefits of frozen yogurt? Tap through to know all about frozen yogurt nutrition and its benefits.

If the question is about choosing one from frozen yogurt and ice cream, frozen yogurt is the ultimate option for health conscious people. During hot summer months, resisting an ice cream or other cold desserts is almost impossible. Nevertheless, an ice cream is prepared from the cream of milk, sugar and flavorings.

So, you can expect its high fat content (approximately 10-18 percent of total weight) and calorie count. When it comes to frozen yogurt, the base ingredient is curdled milk. Thus, the calories of frozen yogurt are lower than that of an ice cream.

The components of frozen yogurt are milk fat, milk solid, bacterial culture, corn syrup, sweetening agent, food color and flavorings. With respect to nutritional value, this cold dessert is considered as an intermediate between true yogurt and ice cream. Available in cones and cups, you will get it with various toppings and flavors.

Also, according to individual health objectives, one can select sugar free frozen yogurt brands that are available in the market. Mentioned ahead are the purported frozen yogurt health benefits.

• Since yogurt culture is used in the preparation of frozen yogurt, it contains bacterial strains that are beneficial for our body. These friendly microbes act as probiotics, thereby helping in maintaining gut flora and minimizing the risks of pathogenic infections.

• The total fat content in frozen yogurt ranges from 2-4 percent, which is not surprising for a milk based product. Nevertheless, check the label of the products before adding in your shopping cart. Some of them contain about 15g fat in a single cup.

• This frozen dessert is touted as a good protein source, though the percentage content is as low as one-third of the real yogurt. In this respect, frozen yogurt nutrition is at par with frozen milk (also called ice milk) and sorbets.

• One of the health benefits of frozen yogurt is the presence of vitamins and essential minerals. They contain riboflavin, calcium, iodine and phosphorus in high amounts. Other nutrients include vitamin B5, vitamin B12, potassium and zinc.

• The carbohydrate content of frozen yogurt is about 30-50 g per 8 ounces serving size. Maximum amounts of carbohydrate are contributed by sugar, which is added to reduce tartness. You can look for brands that have low sugar content.

• Similar to yogurt, the frozen type contains milk digesting enzymes, which help in breaking down of the milk proteins. It is because of this benefit that people with lactose intolerance condition can consume frozen yogurt without worrying about the negative effects.

• Consuming frozen yogurt containing live cultures increases the absorption rate of some nutrients, particularly the B vitamins and calcium. In addition, adding this cold dessert in the regular diet has shown to improve immunity level.

Thus, frozen yogurt is more nutritious than that of the popularly consumed ice cream. But, its health benefits are relatively less in comparison to real yogurt. The protein and mineral content of regular yogurt is much higher than this frozen version. Also, it contains more fats than regular yogurt.

So, a simple way to reap yogurt health benefits without sacrificing the taste of a cold dessert is trying frozen yogurt recipe at home. For a healthier version, you can add fresh, seasonal fruits in the making process, while reducing fatty and sugary ingredients.