Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt (2024)

From the ice cream aisle to the food court, frozen yogurt comes in tons of varieties and flavors. Like regular yogurt, the tangy frozen treat is made from milk fermented with live cultures. These are living organisms that aid in the fermentation process. The frozen stuff also typically includes sugar, flavorings, stabilizers, and cream.

Frozen yogurt makers often claim it is a healthier alternative to ice cream, but that depends on the ingredients. It's usually lower in fat and calories than ice cream, but it can be just as high in sugar.

Nutritional Information

A half-cup of regular frozen yogurt has about:

  • 120 calories
  • 4 grams of protein
  • 2 grams of fat
  • 17 grams of sugar
  • 22 grams of carbohydrates
  • 150 milligrams of calcium (12% of the "Daily Value" -- how much you need each day)

A half-cup of nonfat frozen yogurt has about:

  • 110 calories
  • 3 grams of protein
  • 0 grams of fat
  • 24 grams of sugar
  • 24 grams of carbohydrates
  • 100 milligrams of calcium

A half-cup of low-fat frozen Greek yogurt has about:

  • 100 calories
  • 6 grams of protein
  • 1 gram of fat
  • 14 grams of total sugar
  • 18 grams of carbohydrates
  • 100 milligrams of calcium

But the exact nutrition details differ depending on the brand and ingredients. Check the nutritional information on the package before you buy, or ask at the frozen yogurt shop.

Frozen yogurt also comes in dairy-free versions made with soy, coconut, or nut milk, but they're not necessarily healthier. Greek yogurt, frozen or not, can have more protein and less fat than other options.

Health Benefits

Most frozen yogurt, just like the regular stuff, contains live probiotic cultures. These are good bacteria that can help build a healthy gut, lower blood pressure, and improve your immune system -- your body's defense against germs.

The amount of probiotics in a scoop varies. Frozen yogurt often has fewer cultures than the refrigerated version. And some products have no live probiotics at all. If these good bacteria are what you're after, look for a seal that says "Live and Active Cultures."

Some frozen yogurts can also be a good source of bone-building calcium.

Things to Watch Out For

Remember, frozen yogurt is a dessert, not a health food. Don't overdo it. It's easy to turn a little treat into a super-sized sundae.

Check serving sizes for guidance. And limit yourself when using self-serve machines. Choose a small dish, and avoid the temptation to fill up the whole cup. At the toppings bar, skip candy and sprinkles and choose unsweetened fruit and nuts, which will help fill you up.

Aim for the frozen yogurt with the fewest ingredients. Fewer ingredients means fewer additives.

Keep in mind that if a dessert is fat-free, it likely has more sugar, thickeners, or emulsifiers. You want to get the best of all worlds: the lowest sugar, fat, calories, and sodium. To avoid the extra sugar often added to frozen yogurt, freeze regular yogurt into pops.

To make your own frozen yogurt, check out these recipes:

Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt (2024)

FAQs

Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt? ›

Most frozen yogurt, just like the regular stuff, contains live probiotic cultures. These are good bacteria that can help build a healthy gut, lower blood pressure, and improve your immune system -- your body's defense against germs.

How healthy is frozen yogurt? ›

Frozen yogurt may contain beneficial probiotics, lower levels of lactose, nutrients for good bone health and fewer calories than ice cream.

Does frozen yogurt have the same benefits as regular yogurt? ›

Frozen yogurts vary but are generally made from yogurt, additional cultured milk, sweeteners, and sometimes other dairy derivatives. Contrary to popular belief, regular yogurt's probiotic benefits don't really carry over to frozen yogurt because the cultures are ruined during the freezing process.

Is frozen yogurt better than ice cream for cholesterol? ›

Frozen yogurt: Frozen yogurt often has lower fat and cholesterol than regular ice cream.

Is frozen yogurt easier on your stomach than ice cream? ›

Froyo Can Be Easier to Digest Than Ice Cream

Unfortunately, many people experience stomach discomfort when consuming traditional ice cream. Frozen yogurt has less milk fat than standard ice cream, which makes it easier for the stomach to break down.

Is frozen yogurt anti-inflammatory? ›

"Some frozen yogurts contain the milk protein casein, which may increase inflammation," he explains. "Others contain specific probiotics that may actually reduce it." (And some frozen "yogurts" contain no dairy at all and use coconut milk.)

Is it better to eat frozen yogurt or ice cream? ›

Frozen yogurt tends to be lower in fat and calories than ice cream, but it could have more added sugar. Both frozen treats are decent sources of calcium but contain no fiber.

Is frozen yogurt still probiotic? ›

Most frozen yogurt, just like the regular stuff, contains live probiotic cultures. These are good bacteria that can help build a healthy gut, lower blood pressure, and improve your immune system -- your body's defense against germs.

Is Greek yogurt healthier than ice cream? ›

Light and low-fat yogurts are higher in protein and calcium than light ice cream. They're also usually lower in fat, saturated fat, and calories.

Are frozen Greek yogurt bars healthy? ›

Protein is essential for optimal digestion, cell and tissue repair, blood clotting, and energy production. A greek yogurt frozen bar can be an excellent source of proteins and tastes much creamier. Win-win!

Does frozen yogurt have a lot of sugar? ›

“People don't realize that it often has more sugar than ice cream,” says Dana Kofsky, a California-based nutritionist. Per each half-cup serving, frozen yogurt contains roughly 17 grams of sugar. Meanwhile, ice cream only has about 14 grams of the sweet stuff for the same serving size.

Can diabetics eat frozen yogurt? ›

Angelone says that if you have diabetes, limit frozen yogurt to an occasional treat, just like other sweets, and definitely hold off on calorie- and sugar-laden toppings. "Adding gummy bears and syrup will increase blood sugar much more than adding fiber-rich blueberries and sliced almonds," Angelone says.

Which frozen yogurt has live cultures? ›

Hood® Frozen Yogurt is made with Hood Milk and contains live and active cultures.

Is frozen yogurt healthy or unhealthy? ›

Frozen yogurt certainly does have healthy attributes like less calories and fat and some healthy bacteria but there's a lot of variation in the sea of frozen yogurt options. Whether you're at the local yogurt shop or picking up pints at the grocery store – seek out nutrition info and read ingredient labels carefully.

Why can I eat frozen yogurt but not ice cream? ›

Products made from cream — like ice cream, cream cheese, custard, or butter — should be avoided due to the high levels of lactose. In addition to some kinds of cheeses, some people with lactose intolerance may be able to eat yogurt in moderation, as the lactose has been partly broken down.

Is gelato healthier than frozen yogurt? ›

Frozen yogurt is lower in fat than gelato. Is gelato or frozen yogurt healthier? While both desserts are high in sugar, frozen yogurt is more nutritionally balanced. No matter which one you prefer, there are ways to cut calories and get more nutritional bang for your buck.

Is yogurt still healthy if you freeze it? ›

Yogurt is a popular healthy snack that provides many nutrients and probiotics. When you freeze yogurt, it changes the flavor and the texture slightly, but the probiotics should remain intact. Yogurt is a popular healthy snack that provides many nutrients and probiotics.

Is frozen yogurt a carb or protein? ›

Nearly all varieties of frozen yogurt are low-fat or fat-free, and with a few exceptions ("no sugar added" yogurt, for example), a half-cup serving has 90 to 120 calories, 20 to 26 grams of carbohydrate, 13 to 22 grams of sugar, and 3 to 4 grams of protein.

Which is healthier soft serve or ice cream? ›

Though there isn't a major nutritional difference between the two, soft serve ranks a little better. Sabat says it often has a high amount of air, which reduces the fat content per serving. But ice cream can also vary wildly in its fat and sugar content depending on the brand.

Is ice milk healthier than ice cream? ›

Ice milk is made with lower-fat milk than ice cream, making it less creamy. However, it does contain fewer calories than ice cream.

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