Gelato typically offers fewer calories, less sugar and lower fat content per serving than ice cream. The typical 3.5 oz. serving of vanilla gelato contains 90 calories and 3 grams of fat, compared to 125 calories and 7 grams of fat in the average vanilla ice cream.
However, ice cream or gelato can be enjoyed as an occasional treat as part of a healthy diet. Ice cream and gelato are high in calories and sugar, so you should limit your intake of both of these treats.
Gelato is healthier for you.
SFGate reports that while ice cream has 14 to 17 percent milkfat, gelato contains just 3 to 8 percent. That's because ice cream uses lots of heavy cream, while gelato uses milk. Gelato also uses far fewer egg yolks than ice cream—in some cases none at all.
If you are looking forward to losing weight, but can't stop digging your face into the pints full of frozen desserts, go for gelato any day. With lesser calories and fats than the ice cream, gelato is a win-win dessert for you.
Halo Top earns the top spot on this list for its low calorie count, fairly simple ingredient list, and variety of classic ice cream flavors. It also boasts a substantial amount of protein and is sweetened with sugar and erythritol, a naturally sourced sugar alcohol.
Gelato typically offers fewer calories, less sugar and lower fat content per serving than ice cream. The typical 3.5 oz. serving of vanilla gelato contains 90 calories and 3 grams of fat, compared to 125 calories and 7 grams of fat in the average vanilla ice cream.
While both gelato and ice cream contain cream, milk and sugar, there are differences, too. Authentic gelato uses more milk and less cream than ice cream and generally doesn't use egg yolks, which are a common ingredient in ice cream.
The freezing process kills the bacteria in frozen yogurt so you do not get the same probiotic benefit. So from a calorie standpoint, it looks as if gelato is the worst and frozen yogurt is the best. Gelato also has the most sugar, and ice cream the least.
Gelato contains added sugars (saccharose, glucose, fructose), as well as those in milk (lactose) and fruit (fructose). As long as you follow a few simple rules, however, even diabetics can enjoy a good hand-made gelato.
The Healthiest Choice
Gelato has more calories and fats, which makes people feel satisfied in smaller portion servings. On the other hand, sorbet does not contain fats, but have lesser calories, making you want to eat more.
The benefits of gelato
It tends to contain more milk than cream and therefore has a lower fat content. It's also churned at a slower speed with less air in the mixture than ice cream — this results in smoother, creamier texture and a richer-tasting dessert.
Italian gelato is smoother and silkier than its American counterpart. It's also denser, but has elasticity and fluidity, says Morgan Morano, author of The Art of Gelato.
Gelato contains more milk than cream, making it freeze at a lower temperature and taste cooler, lighter and, arguably, more refreshing. Churned slower than ice-cream, it is more dense and has a more intense flavour.
Ask Italian Desserts Hazelnut Gelato (2 Scoops) (1 serving) contains 0g total carbs, 0g net carbs, 22g fat, 0g protein, and 361 calories.
Gelato is made with milk, cream, various sugars, and ingredients such as fresh fruit and nut purees. It is simply the Italian word for ice cream, derived from the Latin word “gelātus” (meaning frozen).
Experts suggest eating any foods that contain added sugar and saturated fat, like ice cream, in a moderate and mindful way. In excess, these foods might displace nutritious choices in your diet and increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes over time.
Gelato contains carbohydrates in the form of simple sugars, which your body can quickly absorb and use as energy. Enzymes, such as those found in pineapple, help your digestive system work better.
LOW CARB.
Deliciously creamy gelato with 1-2g net carbs per serving, so consumers can stick to their keto diet, guilt-free!
Dairy. Animal-based dairy products like milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt are unhealthy for the heart and may also contribute to high blood pressure. This is because they are high in saturated fats that can constrict blood flow through the vascular system.
Vanilla ice cream contains 7 grams of fat, 14 grams of sugar and 125 calories. Vanilla gelato contains 3 grams of fat, 10 grams of sugar and 90 calories.
In any case, it's good to remember that in gelato the total sugars must remain within certain parameters, normally between 16% and 22%, while sorbets have slightly higher values and can reach up to about 30%.
A good gelato must have a compact structure and it should appear smooth and silky, even if at the same time a little porous. It doesn't have to look grainy and/or rough, and not even shiny.
Italian gelato is often described as being dense. This comes from the process in which it is churned, at a much slower speed compared to ice cream. Once the gelato is churned, it's stored and served at a slightly warmer temperature that's not completely frozen.
In Italy, gelato is a frozen dessert that is traditionally made with whole milk and without added cream, meaning that the milkfat percentage is around 3.8%. It is also traditionally free of eggs and stabilizers.
But usually the amount of fat is at least 15-20%, up to 25%. Gelato, on the other hand, usually stays in a fat range of 5-7%, which makes it easier to digest and overall better for your health.