Are sorbets (really) healthier than ice cream?

2023-06-30 16:30:00

HEALTH ON YOUR PLATES. You may be surprised by the small difference there is between a fairly sweet sorbet and a simple ice cream.

Par Boris Hansel

Published on 06/30/2023 at 6:30 p.m.

Every Friday, find, on Le Point.fr, the nutrition chronicle of Professor Boris Hansel, endocrinologist and nutritionist at the Bichat hospital in Paris. He is also the host of the health channel PuMS on YouTube.

When we want to eat and enjoy an ice cream, we sometimes wonder what is best nutritionally. We will see together what are the real good reasons to eat sorbet or ice cream… Because we can divide “ice cream in the broad sense” into three categories: water ice cream, water ice cream, sugar ice cream and fruit aromas. Sometimes there is no fruit at all! The sorbet which must contain fruit added to the water and sugar is also added. And ice creams and ice creams that contain fat of dairy or vegetable origin depending on the case.

In short: popsicles are flavored sugar water. We won’t talk regarding it once more. Sorbets are fruit with sugar, but without fat. Ice creams and ice creams contain slightly less sugar than sorbets, but instead they contain fat, in varying proportions.

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So what is nutritionally better?

Contrary to popular belief, I am not saying that sorbet is ideal, that it can even replace fruit! It may contain fruit – at least 15 or 25% of their composition depending on the case. But despite this, the fiber and vitamin content, which makes fruit interesting, is very variable. In several nutritional tables that I have been able to consult, sorbet is sugar and very few micronutrients, for example vitamin C. So, no, eating two scoops of sorbet is not an alternative to fruit!

Regarding caloric intake, it is generally higher for ice cream and ice cream than for sorbets. But if you compare the products, you will be surprised how little difference there is sometimes between a fairly sweet sorbet and a simple ice cream. I exclude the big American brands which are generally much more caloric.

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In practice, if you want to limit sugar as much as possible, you will be a winner with certain ice creams. If, on the other hand, you want to reduce fat intake, sorbet is preferable.

In any case, no ice cream is the dessert or the snack that we can recommend to eat FOR health. It remains a pleasure food. And when you really want it, my advice is to choose what you want the most, limiting yourself to two scoops, which is regarding 80 grams. It’s far from a nutritional disaster. If you consume it several times a week, choose low-sweetened homemade sorbets and simply watch what you eat elsewhere. We remind you that nutrition is a question of balance over the week!

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