There's a new craze sweeping the high streets of our global village. From New York to London, Paris to Los Angeles. Whether it's a tasty treat you're after or a healthy alternative to the sugary dessert you really shouldn't have, frozen yogurt is the new 'it thing'. Some people even take more time to eat it than is actually necessary, as it's become a bit of a fashion accessory. Countless celebs have all been spotted sporting designer froyos. Is frozen yogurt healthy? If it's good enough for top super models and natural foods chefs alike, then it can't be bad for you. Or could it?
Low-fat facts or full-cream bull?
Fact is, like most things in life, the key lies in, you guessed it - moderation. Take your favorite New York Cheesecake with caramel fudge sauce; one small serving on some idle Saturday will not negate Thursday's praiseworthy efforts in the gym, while snacking on a normally healthy cocktail of grapes, avocado, dried figs and nuts all day might leave you, well, a little pear-shaped. Frozen yogurt offers the best of both worlds: it can be paired with a wide variety of delicious toppings as a low-fat alternative to ice cream, while it also provides a super healthy option for some of the more health conscious among us.
Why choose frozen yogurt?
Frozen yogurt, like regular yogurt, contains live and active cultures. The words "live and active cultures" refer to the living organisms Lactobacillus Bulgaricus and Streptococcus Thermophilus, which convert pasteurized milk to yogurt during fermentation. It is important to note that, according to the National Yogurt Association (NYA), some yogurt products are heat-treated after the fermentation process, which kills most of the beneficial active cultures found in yogurt as well as frozen yogurt. To help distinguish yogurt products that contain live active cultures from those which don't, look out for the NYA's special live and active cultures seal, which appears on refrigerated and frozen yogurt containers.
Regular and low-fat frozen yogurt contains much less calories per ounce than regular ice cream. Non-fat frozen yogurt contains less than half the amount of calories found in regular ice cream. Top it off with fresh fruit and you have a well-rounded snack, add a sandwich high in protein and fibre closer to lunch time to create a well-balanced meal, which should set you back less than 400 calories.
The health benefits of frozen yogurt are seemingly endless, according to Integrated Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Dairy products are well-known for being a rich source of calcium - crucial for healthy bones, teeth and cell function. Dairy products in general are also high in protein, vitamin B12 and important minerals such as selenium, zinc, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. Research has shown that the live cultures in frozen yogurt may provide many benefits. Being a safe and effective means of treating acute infectious diarrhea in children as well as preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, is among those benefits. Studies have also indicated that these probiotics may offer protection against tumor formation in the colon and help to reduce symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's as well as ulcerative colitis. Good news for individuals with lactose intolerance is that the tests have shown that the live and active cultures in frozen yogurt may improve the digestion of lactose, when consumed in small doses over time. Proof of these cultures' ability to convert dietary fiber into healthy fats means that frozen yogurt now also boast cardiovascular benefits. These benefits are compounded when taking into consideration the yogurt's ability to increase HDL ("good") cholesterol and decreasing the ratio of LDL ("bad") to HDL cholesterol with long-term, daily intake. This may however, be due to the fatty acid distribution and the type of fats in the milk rather than the probiotics.
Like stealing yogurt from a cash cow. Ha-ha, yogurt from a cash cow. Get it? No? Anyone? 'Cause yogurt is made from milk and milk comes from cows and froyo stores are making heaps of money. Is this thing on?
Frozen yogurt has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry in a few short years. With frozen yogurt stores or 'bars' popping up all over the United States and the rest of the world. It's become the popular on-the-go snack choice for millions, however one cannot help feeling that the popularity and almost cult status of Hollywood's favorite snack is contributing to the stiff premium you can expect to pay for a serving of your preferred flavor. No wonder then that sales for frozen yogurt/ice cream makers for home use have sky-rocketed in recent times. With the three most popular frozen dessert makers occupying spots in Amazon's Top 100 Best Sellers list for kitchen and dining appliances for a combined 5 years.
Frozen Yogurt vs. Ice Cream
In conclusion it is safe to say that although frozen yogurt and ice cream may both serve as a tasty, sugary dessert; froyo also has the potential of being a super healthy snack on the way to the gym, whereas ice cream will never be the preferred option for the health conscious out there.
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