Yasso Ice Cream: Keto-Friendly Treat Or Trick?

The ketogenic (keto) diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. Ice cream, usually made with milk, granulated sugar, and cream, is not considered keto-friendly due to its high sugar content. However, there are keto-friendly ice cream brands available, such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel, which use sugar substitutes and are low in net carbs. Yasso, a popular brand of frozen Greek yogurt, has also launched a line of frozen Greek yogurt pints, which are said to be indulgent and better-for-you. While Yasso's products do not contain the high-intensity sweetener erythritol, they are not marketed as keto-friendly.

Yasso's nutritional value

Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt pints are set to launch in several flavours, including Mint Champion-chip and Rolling in the Dough, Caramel Pretzelmania, Coffee Brownie Break, Loco Coco Caramel, and Party Animal. Each Yasso pint contains four servings, ranging from 100 to 150 calories, with 1 to 5 grams of fat and 5 to 7 grams of protein.

Yasso's products are marketed as both indulgent and better-for-you, delivering "a lot of indulgence that people are looking for in the ice cream category, but also delivering superb nutritionals, whether it's calories or protein or use of real Greek yogurt and natural ingredients," according to co-founder Drew Harrington.

Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt products are notable for not containing the high-intensity sweetener erythritol, which is used by some other brands in the category, such as Halo Top. Instead, Yasso has focused on taste while avoiding high-intensity sweeteners, creating a product that delivers on both taste and nutritional value.

Yasso's ingredients

Yasso frozen Greek yogurt is made with nonfat milk, Greek yogurt (nonfat milk, milk protein concentrate, cultures), sugar, chocolate-flavored flakes, powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, soy lecithin, natural flavor, milk protein concentrate, maltodextrin, cream, guar gum, locust bean gum, mint extract, spirulina extract, and fruit juice for color.

The nonfat milk and milk protein concentrate in Yasso frozen Greek yogurt provide a good source of protein per serving. The product is also naturally flavored and free from artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols.

The chocolate-flavored flakes in Yasso frozen Greek yogurt are made with powdered sugar, cornstarch, coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, soy lecithin, and natural flavor. Coconut oil is a type of plant-based fat that is often used in place of butter or other types of oil in recipes. Cocoa processed with alkali, also known as Dutch-processed cocoa, is cocoa that has been treated with an alkali solution to neutralize its natural acidity. This gives it a milder flavor and darker color than natural cocoa. Soy lecithin is an emulsifier commonly used in chocolate to help keep the ingredients blended and smooth.

The remaining ingredients in Yasso frozen Greek yogurt include cream, which provides a source of fat, and various stabilizers and thickeners such as guar gum and locust bean gum. Mint extract, spirulina extract, and fruit juice are added for color and flavor.

Yasso vs Halo Top

Yasso and Halo Top are two brands of ice cream that have emerged in response to the growing demand for healthier ice cream options. Both brands offer products that are high in protein and low in calories, but there are some key differences between them.

Yasso, which began as a maker of frozen Greek yogurt bars, has expanded into the low-calorie pint market. Their pints come in eight flavours, ranging from classic chocolate and vanilla to more inventive options such as Loco Coco Caramel and Coffee Brownie Break. Each pint contains four servings, with each serving containing 100 to 150 calories, 1 to 5 grams of fat, and 5 to 7 grams of protein. Yasso's products do not contain the high-intensity sweetener erythritol, which is commonly used in other brands, including Halo Top.

Halo Top, on the other hand, has become a popular choice for those following a keto diet, which is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. Their Keto Series offers a variety of flavours, including Mint Chocolate Cookie and Banana Cream Pie, with each serving containing 4-10 grams of net carbs. In a taste test by Reviewed, Halo Top's cookie dough flavour emerged as the favourite healthy ice cream, with testers praising its texture and consistency, as well as its lack of overwhelming sweetness.

In terms of nutritional content, Halo Top's pints contain approximately 80 calories per serving, while Yasso's range from 100 to 150 calories. Yasso's products also contain slightly more fat and protein per serving. However, it is worth noting that Yasso's products do not contain erythritol, which some people may prefer to avoid.

While both brands offer healthier alternatives to traditional ice cream, there are some differences in taste and texture. Some reviewers have found Halo Top to be too sweet and artificial-tasting, while others have criticised Yasso for its grainy texture and lack of flavour. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference, as both brands offer unique benefits and drawbacks.

Yasso's impact on ketosis

Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt products are marketed as a healthy dessert option that delivers "a lot of indulgence" while also offering "superb nutritionals". Each Yasso pint contains four servings, ranging from 100 to 150 calories with 1 to 5 grams of fat and 5 to 7 grams of protein.

However, Yasso's products are not explicitly marketed as keto-friendly. Unlike some keto-friendly ice cream brands, Yasso does not use the high-intensity sweetener erythritol. Instead, Yasso avoids the use of high-intensity sweeteners altogether.

The keto diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. The goal of the keto diet is to shift your metabolism into ketosis, where your body burns ketones instead of glycogen for fuel. This means that your body is using fat, either from your body or your diet, instead of sugar or carbs. The keto diet limits carbohydrates to between 20 and 50 grams per day and protein is limited to roughly 1 gram per pound of body weight.

Ice cream is not typically considered keto-friendly because of its added sugars, which raise your blood glucose levels, lower ketone levels in your blood, and prevent your body from burning fat stores. However, there are keto-friendly ice cream options available from brands such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. These brands use sugar substitutes such as monk fruit, stevia, and erythritol to create ice cream that is low in carbohydrates and suitable for a keto diet.

Therefore, while Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt products may be lower in calories, fat, and protein compared to some ice cream options, they are not explicitly designed to be keto-friendly. Their avoidance of high-intensity sweeteners like erythritol, which is used in some keto-friendly ice cream brands, suggests that their products may contain more carbohydrates than are recommended for a keto diet.

Yasso's taste

Yasso's frozen Greek yogurt products are known for their taste and nutritional value. The brand offers a range of frozen Greek yogurt stick bars and sandwiches, as well as a line of pint offerings. The products are described as indulgent yet better-for-you options in the frozen dessert category.

Yasso's co-founder, Drew Harrington, emphasised the brand's focus on taste and nutrition. He stated that Yasso aimed to deliver "a lot of indulgence that people are looking for in the ice cream category, but also deliver superb nutritionals, whether it's calories or protein or use of real Greek yogurt and natural ingredients."

The Yasso pints differ from other brands by avoiding high-intensity sweeteners like erythritol, which some people question the integrity of. Instead, Yasso uses other ingredients to achieve their desired taste and nutritional profile.

The Yasso pints come in eight different flavours, ranging from traditional options like mint chip and chocolate chip cookie dough to more unique offerings. Some of the standout flavours include Caramel Pretzelmania, Coffee Brownie Break, and Loco Coco Caramel. Each Yasso pint contains four servings, ranging from 100 to 150 calories, with 1 to 5 grams of fat and 5 to 7 grams of protein.

Yasso's products have been well-received, with their pints described as having vibrant and fun packaging, and more importantly, tasting good. The brand has positioned itself as a one-stop shop for consumers' dessert needs, offering both novelties and packaged frozen Greek yogurt options.

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