Whether you just finished a meal or you’re taking a walk outside, you may find yourself wanting something sweet and creamy in a cup or a cone. But then, you arrive at the crossroads. Should you get frozen yogurt or ice cream? Which one will not only satisfy your craving but also be better overall? Weighing the differences between frozen yogurt and ice cream, it’s obvious that ice cream is superior by a large margin.
First and foremost, ice cream contains more milk fat than frozen yogurt. According to the FDA, all ice cream must have a minimum of 10% milk fat, although many brands go higher, such as Ben and Jerry’s at 15%. Meanwhile, frozen yogurt usually has a maximum of 6% milk fat. While some believe that eating less fat makes a person healthier, studies have shown that diets with higher milk fat were associated with reduced risk of type two diabetes.
Although a small treat may not have a large effect on a person’s health, it can still become consequential in the long run. Therefore, choosing ice cream over frozen yogurt is the better choice for bodily health.
Another reason why ice cream is more beneficial for health is that it often contains less sugar than frozen yogurt. The USDA reports that a half cup of ice cream has 13 grams of sugar, while the same serving size of frozen yogurt has a whopping 17 grams of sugar. Frozen yogurt is made with cultured milk, which has a naturally sour taste to it, so more sugar is added to it to balance out the flavor.
Increased sugar often comes with weight gain because sugar is an empty calorie, and weight gain comes from excess calorie consumption. Weight gain often leads to cardiovascular health risks. Since frozen yogurt has a higher sugar content in comparison to ice cream, it is also unhealthier when eaten in excess.
Furthermore, ice cream is more accessible than frozen yogurt. In the U.S. there are currently 11,086 ice cream store businesses, and this number has continued to increase. On the other hand, there are only 223 frozen yogurt store businesses in the U.S., a number that has been on a steady decline since 2015. With the higher number of ice cream stores, it is much easier to find an ice cream store than a frozen yogurt store, especially when the craving hits.
Lastly, ice cream has a longer, richer history than frozen yogurt. Even though this doesn’t have much to do with health, it does show that ice cream has been more enduring in the test of time than frozen yogurt has been. Ice cream was invented in France during the 17th century, and has since then spread around the entire world, growing as the years go on.
At the same time, frozen yogurt, which was invented in the 1970s and had its boom in the 2010s, is now in a decline. Frozen yogurt is not as prevalent as ice cream has been, and may never be. People have been choosing to eat ice cream for centuries, which frozen yogurt seems to lack the potential for.
In conclusion, ice cream is many cuts above frozen yogurt. Not only is ice cream healthier, but it is also easier to find and has been enjoyed by people for a much longer time than frozen yogurt. So, next time you’re staring at the map, debating between places to eat a cold, sweet treat, choose ice cream.
