Tofutti -- created in the late 1970's -- was the first popular soy ice cream in the U.S. Soy ice creams are available at grocery stores, health food stores and some ice cream parlors. You can buy a variety of brands and many flavors of soy ice cream. This dessert is sold in pints and quarts, and can also be found as frozen novelties such as bars, sandwiches and ice cream pies. Some soy ice creams have more nutrients than others, and some are labeled as "desserts" not ice creams, because they do not contain any dairy products.
Fats, Cholesterol and Calories
Because soy ice cream is low in saturated fats, people trying to lower their cholesterol levels may be able include it in their diets. Most soy ice creams contain no cholesterol. A half-cup of soy ice cream has between 4 g and 9 g of fat, which is between 7 percent and 14 percent of the daily-recommended allowance. As for saturated fats, many soy ice creams have less than 1 g or around 5 percent of your daily allowance per serving. Soy ice cream contains an average of 140 calories per half cup with 25 percent to 50 percent of the calories from fat. The American Heart Association recommends you limit your total fat intake to less than 25 percent to 35 percent of your total calories each day. Saturated fat consumption should not exceed 7 percent of your daily calories, so you can find soy ice creams that meet the Heart Association's recommendations.
By comparison, the same size serving of regular vanilla ice cream may contain approximately 260 calories with 16 g of fat and 12 g of saturated fats, that is, about 50 percent of the calories coming from fat, according to a 2003 Center For Science in the Public Interest report on "The Scoop on Ice Cream Shops."
Vitamins
If the soy ice cream is made with soy milk fortified with calcium, vitamins A and D, riboflavin, zinc and vitamin B12, then the dessert will contain a nutritious amount of vitamins and minerals, but otherwise soy ice cream labels list that they do not supply any vitamin A or C, nor do they include any other significant vitamins.
Minerals
Few brands of soy ice cream provide any iron, and if they do, the amount is about 2 percent of your daily allowance of this mineral. While ice cream contains calcium, most soy ice creams do not. Soy ice cream does not usually contain soy milk or tofu. Most are made from isolated soy proteins, which are cheaper and sometimes have more dairy-like flavors and textures.
Unfermented soy products, such soy ice cream, may contain acids that can block the absorption of essential minerals in the intestinal tract, including calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc, according to Green Living Online.
Protein, Fiber And Carbohydrates
Soy ice cream contains little protein, only 1 to 2 g. Fiber is also minimal, from less than 1 g to 3 g. As for carbohydrates, soy ice cream has between 18 and 24 g, or 6 to 8 percent of the daily-recommended allowance of carbohydrates. The two main forms of carbohydrates are sugars, such as fructose, glucose, and lactose and starches.
Sodium And Sugars
Soy ice creams contain between 125 and 150 mg of sodium, which works out to 5 percent or 6 percent of your recommended daily allowance. Soy ice creams have approximately 12 g of sugars. Depending on the brand of soy dessert, the sugar is comes from various sources, including agave nectar, brown rice syrup solids and tapioca syrup. A few are sweetened with fruit and other unrefined sweeteners.
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