Is Frozen Yogurt really that good for you?

I LOVE frozen yogurt! My favorite place is Pinkberry or Yogurtland. After reading this article, it really bummed me out! But, I'm glad I know the truth, and their are still other options to get your kick of froyo!

 

Food Babe Investigates: Frozen Yogurt Gone Bad

By Food Babe, on June 12th, 2013

---

Before you start the enjoying the hot weather and cool treats this summer – there’s something I have to tell you, but you first have to promise not to kill the messenger (me!).
Commercially available frozen yogurt is one of the most processed food products on the planet!
Yes – you heard that right – that creamy, low calorie, probiotic promised goodness swirled into your cup and topped with your favorite goodies is one of the worst “healthy” fads to hit the franchise market, and I’m here to tell you the cold hard facts (ha! – no pun intended).
Frozen yogurt is made with several components:(Unlike real yogurt that is made with just two ingredients – milk + cultures)

• milk solids, processed milk product (like powdered or condensed milk) and/or milk fat
• some kind of refined sweetener – usually a few different kinds like evaporated cane syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, etc.
• yogurt culture (Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus are common cultures)
• natural or artificial flavorings
• natural or artificial coloring
• sometimes trans fat
• sometimes preservatives
• stabilizers and thickeners like guar gum or carrageenan
• other fillers like cellulose gum (a.k.a. the stuff made from wood pulp)

Before the mixture is frozen into an edible product, the yogurt ingredients come in a big box of pre-made liquid or powder. This is very similar to how most fast food franchises obtain their products – in a box or a carton pre-made, pre-mixed, heavily processed and preserved. In fact, most frozen yogurt companies buy their formula mix from the same manufacturer and at a very cheap cost, about 10 cents per serving – and sell it to you for a 500% markup! To witness just how processed frozen yogurt can be, I challenge you to go over to your favorite frozen yogurt joint and ask them how they make their yogurt. They’ll show you the pre-packaged liquid or powder they mix with water that they throw right into the machine – pre-packed liquid that looks NOTHING like yogurt and more like kool-aid, depending on the flavor in a plastic jug. It’s a rather disgusting sight to tell you the truth, and an exercise I conduct on occasion to remind myself not to eat that stuff.

To continue reading ...http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/06/12/food-babe-investigates-frozen-yogurt-gone-bad