Binging on an ice cream tub to cope with work stress, AGAIN? I bet you will regret the stress eating once you climb that scary machine called the weight scale. How about I tell you a way out of it with a healthier alternative to ice cream? Enter: high-protein frozen yogurt bars!
They taste divine and are packed with nutrients. Plus, if you keep an eye on your portion, you won’t add kilos to your waistline.
The catch? While usually marketed as ice cream’s healthier kin, frozen yogurt may still contain many sugars and flavors. So make sure to check out the ingredients list to avoid unnecessary carbohydrates.
Also, it is essential to keep track of how much you consume in a day. Since too much of anything is wrong – you should consume high-protein frozen yogurt bars in moderation only.
Plus, there is more than one variant. There are plain ones with sugars – that we usually eat as a treat at the end of a dinner. And the healthier ones that are low-fat, high-protein, and no added sugars.
The yogurt bars derived from greek yogurt are even better than plain ones. They contain minimal lactose – a sugar found in milk and dairy products. Half a bowl of typical frozen greek yogurt contains;
- 100 calories
- 6 grams protein
- 1 gram fat
- 14 grams total sugar
- 18 grams carbohydrates
- 100 milligrams calcium
See the massive number of proteins – considering the number of calories we are getting. Freeze it into high-protein frozen yogurt bars, and it becomes a delicacy you cannot wait to delve in!
9 Amazing Benefits of Frozen Yogurt
There are countless benefits that the yummylicious frozen yogurt comes with – let’s discuss nine of them today;
1. Rich Protein Source
Look for the frozen yogurt bars that use greek yogurt as a derivative – or try making some yourself at home. Greek yogurt is strained to remove whey – a high sugar component of milk. Thus, the leftover product is low in carbohydrates and high in proteins.
Proteins are essentially the building blocks of our muscles. Muscles, hair, skin, many enzymes, and countless other parts of our body depend on proteins for their structure. Your body depends on proteins for growth and strength. Muscles contract and build bigger using protein s fuel.
Protein is essential for optimal digestion, cell and tissue repair, blood clotting, and energy production. A greek yogurt frozen bar can be an excellent source of proteins and tastes much creamier. Win-win!
2. Low-Calorie Count
Ice creams are made from cream – a rich source of fats. And we know how fat those make us! High-fat content in food leads to increased fat deposits in cells. The primary ingredients in high-protein frozen yogurt bars are milk and Greek yogurt– which are much less fattening and even high on protein.
Therefore, the calorie count is much lower if you watch out for added sugar or unhealthy toppings. Frozen yogurt is also an essential source of nutrients while you are following a diet.
Nutritionists swear by it for providing the necessary proteins without adding to the daily calorie consumption.
3. Good for Bones
Yogurt, or dairy in general, is high in calcium and vitamin D – both vital for your bone health. The proteins and minerals can keep your bones strong and help fight common bone diseases such as osteoporosis.
4. Good for Gut
Not only are these healthy munchies good for your bones, but they are fantastic for your gut health too. The natural bacterias (probiotics)found in yogurt are suitable for your digestive tract and maintain a balanced environment. Probiotics help prevent and even effectively treat diarrhea.
If you are on antibiotics and experiencing diarrhea, a probiotic dose like a serving of frozen yogurt can perfect the environment in your digestive system.
5. Helps in Weight Loss
Yep, you read that right! High-protein yogurt bars are low in calories, but they can also aid in weight loss. The high-protein content produces a feeling of satiety, which helps consume less food and shed more kilos!
Related Article: How to Lose Weight Naturally
6. Improves Mental Health
The numerous nutrients in these frozen treats contribute to better mental health. Studies report that great probiotics decrease depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. So not only will the flavor warm your heart, but the nutrients will keep your brain happy too!
The study confirms that taking probiotic supplements for just eight weeks can significantly decrease depression and anxiety, get rid of inflammation in the body (consequently help with weight reduction), and even regulate hormones like insulin for an optimized hormonal balance.
Related Article: 10 Ways to Achieve Happiness
7. Lowers Blood Pressure
Research shows that probiotics could lower blood pressure and lead to a healthier cardiovascular system. Although the theory needs more testing, the potential benefit adds to the scoreboard!
Probiotics lead to a healthy heart by lowering your LDL, also known as bad cholesterol levels. Probiotics break down bile, preventing it from being absorbed while it's still in the gut and keeping it from entering the bloodstream as cholesterol. This is the exact process of how probiotics help lower cholesterol and improve heart health.
8. Lowers Risk of Diabetes
Researchers found that the consumption of dairy products could lower the risk of type-2 diabetes. It is common in younger individuals where the body cannot efficiently regulate blood sugar levels.
Probiotics have proven to be highly effective for treating some allergies and even eczema. They are essential for newborns, and probiotic formulas help newborns have better digestion than non-probiotic milk.
9. Boosts Immunity
The probiotics and high protein content also boost your immune system and make up for healthier and happier individuals.
The nutrients in a high-protein frozen yogurt bar can help you fight disease-causing germs and keep you safe from diseases.
Frozen Yogurt Bar Recipe
- Course - Dessert
- Cuisine - Italian
- Prep Time - 10 minutes
- Cook Time - 3 minutes
- Total Time - 13 minutes
Ingredients
- 5 oz blueberries
- 2 oz blackberries
- 1/2 lemon or lime -juice only
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp wild honey + more to taste
- 2 cups Greek yogurt (non-fat)
- 5 viola flowers for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Add the blueberries to a small saucepan together with the lime or lemon juice. Cover with a lid and bring to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes until the blueberries have all popped. Allow cooling completely.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the yogurt, honey and vanilla extract.
- Add the blueberry sauce and mix well.
- Line a shallow baking dish with parchment paper and pour the yogurt mix on top.
- Sprinkle with the blackberries and some fresh blueberries. Garnish with a few violas flowers available.
- Freeze for 4 to 6 hours until completely frozen.
- Cut or break into 2-inch bars and serve with lots of napkins
Conclusion
So there you have it – not one but nine reasons why high-protein frozen yogurt bars can be good for you. They can be a healthy snack and an alternative to conventional ice creams. But, do watch out for the ingredients on the packaging for any unhealthy carbs and sugars. Because if you are looking for health benefits, sugars won’t do you good.
Reading List
Article Sources
- Akkasheh, Ghodarz, et al. ‘Clinical and Metabolic Response to Probiotic Administration in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial’. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), vol. 32, no. 3, Mar. 2016, pp. 315–20. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2015.09.003.
- Chen, Mu, et al. ‘Dairy Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: 3 Cohorts of US Adults and an Updated Meta-Analysis’. BMC Medicine, vol. 12, no. 1, Nov. 2014, p. 215. BioMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-014-0215-1.
- Khalesi, Saman, et al. ‘Effect of Probiotics on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials’. Hypertension (Dallas, Tex.: 1979), vol. 64, no. 4, Oct. 2014, pp. 897–903. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.114.03469.
- Kumar, Manoj, et al. ‘Cholesterol-Lowering Probiotics as Potential Biotherapeutics for Metabolic Diseases’. Experimental Diabetes Research, vol. 2012, 2012, p. 902917. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/902917.
- Moore, J. Bernadette, et al. ‘Evaluation of the Nutrient Content of Yogurts: A Comprehensive Survey of Yogurt Products in the Major UK Supermarkets’. BMJ Open, vol. 8, no. 8, Aug. 2018, p. e021387. bmjopen.bmj.com, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021387.
- Rizzoli, René. ‘Dairy Products, Yogurts, and Bone Health’. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 99, no. 5 Suppl, May 2014, pp. 1256S-62S. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.113.073056.
- Sunyecz, John A. ‘The Use of Calcium and Vitamin D in the Management of Osteoporosis’. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, vol. 4, no. 4, Aug. 2008, pp. 827–36. PubMed Central, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2621390/.
- Weigle, David S., et al. ‘A High-Protein Diet Induces Sustained Reductions in Appetite, Ad Libitum Caloric Intake, and Body Weight despite Compensatory Changes in Diurnal Plasma Leptin and Ghrelin Concentrations’. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 82, no. 1, July 2005, pp. 41–48. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn.82.1.41.