Found in the "milk" category of the food guide pyramid, frozen yogurt is one choice that fulfills part of your calcium requirement for the day. Apart from this, vanilla non fat frozen yogurt does not contain any unwanted saturated fat and provides a few grams of protein. Although it contains a fair amount of sugar, this type of frozen yogurt does have several beneficial properties.
Calories
Vanilla non fat frozen yogurt is relatively lower in calories than other varieties containing fat. A half cup of vanilla non fat frozen yogurt contains 90 calories, while regular vanilla frozen yogurt contains 120 calories, according to LIVESTRONG's MyPlate. As fat contains the highest amount of energy per gram of the three macronutrients, fat, protein, and carbohydrate, removing the fat shaves off quite a few calories. Although some manufacturers add additional sugar after removing the fat, non fat frozen yogurt will generally be lower in calories than its full-fat counterparts.
Fat
One of the benefits of consuming vanilla non fat frozen yogurt is that it is completely free of unwanted saturated fat. A half cup of regular vanilla frozen yogurt contains 4 g fat, of which 2.5 g are saturated, according to LIVESTRONG's MyPlate. Saturated fat has a negative effect on blood cholesterol, increasing harmful LDL cholesterol and decreasing beneficial HDL. Given that the fat in frozen yogurt is primarily saturated, non fat frozen yogurt is a healthier choice.
Protein
Although vanilla non fat frozen yogurt does not contain a great deal of protein, it does contribute 3 g per 1/2 cup. A 150-pound person needs approximately 55 g of protein per day (0.8 g/kg body weight). Compared to many other dessert foods, such as candy, the yogurt contains a reasonable amount of protein. Given that protein delays gastric emptying and is important in preventing overeating, it is a good idea to include a sufficient amount in the diet.
Carbohydrate
One of the nutritional downfalls of vanilla non fat frozen yogurt is its sugar content. A 1/2 cup contains a whopping 17 g of sugar. This is 2 g more than is found in the regular vanilla frozen yogurt. Given that sugar is a source of "empty calories" in the diet and does not contribute anything other than energy, it is desirable to limit it in the diet.
Calcium
A 1/2 cup of vanilla non fat frozen yogurt contains 10 percent of the daily value for calcium based on a 2,000-calorie diet. The United States Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid recommends that adults consume 3 cups of dairy products per day. Calcium is essential in maintaining the structure of the bones and teeth, and is also needed for muscle function.
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