Frozen yogurt can be a lower-calorie alternative to ice cream, but it is unlikely to be a good choice as a primary food for a diet. While frozen yogurt tends to be low in calories and fat, this food does not provide many nutritional benefits, so while you may lose weight, your overall health may suffer on a frozen yogurt diet. Consult a doctor before starting any diet, and check product labels, as nutrition facts may vary by brand.
Frozen Yogurt Nutrition
Frozen yogurt is relatively low in calories, as one cup of the dessert contains 221 calories, which is about 11 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000. One cup of frozen yogurt contains 6 g of fat, with 4 g coming from saturated fat. Frozen yogurt is carbohydrate-rich, with 37.6 g, but low in protein, with 5.2 g per cup. Frozen yogurt is not particularly nutrient-rich, but it does contain significant levels of potassium, calcium and vitamin A.
Benefits
A frozen yogurt diet can be beneficial because this type of food is low in calories, so you may find it more difficult to consume enough calories to stall your weight loss progress. Additionally, a frozen yogurt diet would provide high levels of calcium; research from the January 2010 edition of the "International Journal of Obesity" suggests that increased calcium intake can encourage improved fat loss. A frozen yogurt diet would also provide adequate levels of fat, which can be important for weight loss, as research from the July 2008 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine" indicates that low-fat diets are less effective than other diet plans.
Drawbacks for Weight Loss
A frozen yogurt diet presents many drawbacks for weight loss. Such a diet would be very high in carbohydrates, and a research review from the February 2006 issue of "Archives of Internal Medicine" indicates that low-carbohydrate diets produce quicker weight loss than diets higher in carbohydrates. Additionally, a frozen yogurt diet would be low in protein, a nutrient that can aid in dieting because it promotes satiety, increased calorie expenditure and increased fat burning, according to the October 2004 issue of "Journal of the American College of Nutrition."
General Health Drawbacks
In addition to presenting disadvantages for weight loss, a frozen yogurt diet can be detrimental to your overall health. Much of the fat in frozen yogurt -- more than 60 percent -- comes from saturated fat, a type of fat that promotes an increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, frozen yogurt provides very few essential vitamins and minerals, which can compromise your health.
References
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Frozen Yogurts, Chocolate
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Effect of Dairy and Non-Dairy Calcium on Fecal Fat Excretion in Lactose Digester and Maldigester Obese Adults; M.S. Buchowski et al.; January 2010
- "The New England Journal of Medicine"; Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet; I. Shai et al.; July 2008
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Effects of Low-Carbohydrate vs Low-Fat Diets on Weight Loss and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials; A.J. Nordmann et al.; February 2006
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; The Effects of High Protein Diets on Thermogenesis, Satiety and Weight Loss: A Critical Review; T.L. Halton, F.B. Wu; October 2004
- American Heart Association; Saturated Fats; October 2010
Member Comments