Is frozen yogurt really full of healthy probiotics, like the many companies in the $2 billion industry claim? Yes and no.
Probiotics are naturally found in yogurt, and they do help support the immune and digestive systems. However, they don’t always make their way to your digestive tract, especially in the case of frozen yogurt. According to Shape, shelf-life, manufacturing processes, and extreme temperatures can prevent the healthy bacteria from actually getting where it needs to go for health benefits.
Simin Nikbin Meydani, professor of nutrition at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and associate director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging tells Tufts Journal:
“Different yogurts and frozen yogurts are made with different types of live cultures and probiotics, and the levels that remain in frozen yogurt depend on the numbers that were in the yogurt and on the heartiness of the specific bacteria that was used.”
Look for the “Live and Active Cultures” seal on containers of frozen yogurt, a voluntary labeling program sponsored by The National Yogurt Association. Pinkberry and Red Mango both carry the “Live & Active Cultures” seal on their frozen yogurts, while TCBY and Yogen Fruz do not.
Bottom line: There are some healthy probiotics in your frozen yogurt, but probably not as many as you’ll find in regular yogurt. And once you add up all the calories in the frozen yogurt and toppings, it generally outweighs any probiotic benefits you’ll get. So, stick to regular low – sugar yogurt, or talk to your doctor about taking a probiotic supplement.
