Frozen Yogurt Nutrition Facts

Mouth-watering frozen yogurt is a cream free dessert made from yogurt and other dairy products. Frozen yogurt is served in various flavors along with fresh fruit (banana, mango, kiwi, blackberry, strawberry, blueberry, pineapple), dry fruit (raisins, almond, coconut) and liquid (honey, pomegranate juice) toppings. It is considered to be a low fat alternative to ice cream and a rare dessert to be counted amongst the healthy foods. Before moving onto the frozen yogurt nutrition facts, let's learn what constitutes a frozen yogurt.

Main Ingredients of Frozen Yogurt

• Milk fat : 0.5-6% of the yogurt
• Milk solids : 8-14% of the yogurt. Milk solids contain 55% milk sugars or lactose, 37% protein and 8% minerals
• Yogurt culture includes healthy bacteria like acidophilus and bifidobacterium
• Sweeteners like cane or beet sugar : 15-17% of the yogurt
• Emulsifiers and Stabilizers (animal and vegetable gelatin): 0.5-0.6% of the entire volume
• Corn syrup, coloring and flavoring agents

Frozen Yogurt Nutrition

Calories: An ounce of frozen yogurt usually contains 25-30 calories depending on whether it is of the non fat, low fat or regular variety. A medium cone of 8 oz. has approximately 200-240 calories.

Carbohydrates: One medium serving of 8 oz has 30-50 grams of carbohydrates.

Fats : Fat content is much lesser as compared to ice creams. Moreover, frozen yogurt made from skimmed milk is totally fat free. If made from whole milk or low fat milk, it has less than four grams of fat in a serving of 8 oz.

Proteins: There are 2-8 grams of proteins in a serving of 8 oz.

Calcium: An eight oz frozen yogurt suffices 20% to 30% of the RDA for calcium.

Health Benefits of Frozen Yogurt

Carbohydrates are a very essential component of a healthy diet. The glucose obtained from carbohydrates fulfills the energy requirements of the body. Frozen yogurt is a carbohydrate rich food and thus, provides the body with instant energy.

Calcium is an essential mineral for the body which keeps the bones healthy and strong, protects the heart and also aids in losing weight. Frozen yogurts are made from dairy products, so it makes them rich in calcium. However, regular yogurt is a far richer source of calcium for the body.

When probiotics become a part of the diet, they help in building the body's immunity. Due to probiotics, certain essential vitamins are produced in the body. Also, the body is able to absorb more nutrients. Live bacteria contribute in making digestion easier and faster.

Proteins aid in building and repairing bones, muscles, cartilage and the skin. A medium serving of frozen yogurt provides the body with minimum sixteen grams of protein.

Other vitamins and minerals present in frozen yogurt like riboflavin, thiamine, potassium have their own benefits. Riboflavin aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins and aids to produce energy. Potassium regulates the blood pressure and thiamine aids in the proper functioning of the nervous system.

Diabetic patients can eat frozen yogurt as live cultures make lactose (a milk sugar) easily digestible. Sugar free versions of the frozen yogurt are available in the market too.

There is no doubt that there are many health benefits of frozen yogurt. Even the frozen yogurt calories don't get stored in the body as fat, since they are mainly carbohydrates. Here's hoping that now you have a clear idea of frozen yogurt nutrition facts. So go and enjoy your cup of this tangy, refreshing dessert sans any guilt pangs.