Ice Cream vs. Sherbet — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Introduction

Ice cream is a popular semi-frozen food. Its main ingredients are sugar, cream, flavoring, and milk. Given its composition, ice cream is considered a dairy product because it is mainly made with milk, cream, or butterfat.

We can make ice cream full fat, low fat or reduced fat, and light fat. The fat content of milk in ice cream ranges from 10 to 15%. Light fat ice cream is the one with the lowest composition of milk fat at 5%.

Ice cream can have creamy flavors, like vanilla, chocolate, cookie, etc. In addition, it can be fruity or sweet, like melon, banana, bubble gum, etc. 

Sherbet (sometimes also known as ‘sherbert’) is a frozen dessert made from fruit puree, sugar, and very low milk fat, 1-2%. It is a sorbet with added milk fat. Stabilizing elements can be added into sherbets, like vegetable gum, egg yolk, etc.; these stabilizing elements enhance the texture of the sherbet. 

Based on these above-mentioned recipes, ice cream and sherbet cannot be part of the lactose-free or vegan diets because of the dairy products used in their production. Depending on the recipes, both ice cream and sherbet may be made vegan or dairy-free if certain dairy substitutes are used.

Varieties

Both of these frozen treats have a wide range of flavors and taste. Thus, the nutrients may vary accordingly.

A vanilla ice cream has different sugar and fat content compared to brownie or cookie ice cream.

Similarly, sherbets with different flavors like lemon or fruit flavors such as raspberry, pineapple, and orange have different vitamin and mineral content differences. These changes do not necessarily mean a drastic change in the vitamin and mineral contents; however, we must consider the variation.

A famous party beverage is the sherbet punch. The sherbet punch is made with different fruit juices or lime soda (7up). You should consider the sugar content in the sherbet punch, as it tends to be higher than in a regular sherbet. 

Another difference between sherbet and ice cream is found in their methods of production. Additives are usually used during the production, which may be harmful to the body and gut microbiomes. It is recommended to avoid ice creams and sherbets that have additives in them.

Nutritional Content Comparison

The recommended serving sizes for both ice cream and sherbet have recently been increased from ½ of a cup to ⅔  of a cup (1). This is an equivalent of around 85-120g. 

This recent change has been made to make the serving sizes closer to what people actually consume in their scoop of an ice cream or sherbet.

In this section, we will compare the nutritional composition of vanilla ice cream and orange sherbet per 100-gram serving. 

Macronutrients and Calories 

As can be seen from the graphs below, the macronutrient composition of ice cream and sherbet are quite similar, with few differences, especially in the fats and protein distributions.

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison

Ice cream

3

Protein: 3.5 g

Fats: 11 g

Carbs: 23.6 g

Water: 61 g

Other: 0.9 g

Sherbet

2

Protein: 1.1 g

Fats: 2 g

Carbs: 30.4 g

Water: 66.1 g

Other: 0.4 g

Contains more ProteinProtein	+218.2%
Contains more FatsFats	+450%
Contains more OtherOther	+125%

Contains more CarbsCarbs

+28.8%

~equal in Water ~66.1g

 

Calories

For the same amount of serving, orange sherbet provides lower calories when compared to vanilla ice cream. 

Sherbet has 144 calories per 100g, while ice cream has 207 calories.

Fats

Ice cream contains more fat than sherbet. Per 100-gram serving, the amount of fats in ice cream is 11 grams, while only 2 grams in sherbet. 

However, if we look at the fat distribution graphs below, we can notice that ice cream and sherbet have similar fat type distribution. Since ice cream has more total fats, it follows that ice cream also has more saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and cholesterol.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison

Ice cream

2

Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 6.79 g

Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 2.969 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.452 g

Sherbet

1

Saturated fat: Sat. Fat 1.16 g

Monounsaturated fat: Mono. Fat 0.53 g

Polyunsaturated fat: Poly. Fat 0.08 g

Contains more Mono. FatMonounsaturated fat	+460.2%
Contains more Poly. FatPolyunsaturated fat	+465%

Contains less Sat. FatSaturated fat

-82.9%

       

Ice cream contains 6.79g of saturated fat compared to sherbet, which contains 1.16g. The daily recommended value of saturated fat is less than 20g.

The monounsaturated fat content of ice cream is 2.9g, whereas sherbet contains 0.53g.

The cholesterol content of ice cream is 44mg, while sherbet contains far less cholesterol – 1mg, nearly considered negligible.

Hence, sherbet is lower in fat and cholesterol content compared to ice cream.

Protein

Ice cream contains higher amounts of proteins than sherbet due to the dairy content of ice cream. Per 100-gram serving, ice cream has 3.5g of protein, while sherbet has 1.1g.

Carbohydrates

When it comes to carbohydrates, sherbet contains higher carbs (30.4g per 100g) than ice cream (23.6g per 100g). This is because sherbet is composed of fruit puree and added sugar while ice cream is based on dairy.

Vitamin Content Comparison

A single serving of neither ice cream nor sherbet contains significant amounts of any of the vitamins. However, ice cream does contain adequate amounts of certain vitamins such as vitamin B12, vitamin B5, and vitamin B2, while sherbet contains little amounts of some vitamins such as vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin B5, and vitamin B2.

The vitamin C content in sherbet is 2.3mg and for ice cream it is equal to 0.6mg. The daily requirement for vitamin C is 65-90mg, which means that although sherbet is richer in vitamin C, they both have minimal input into the daily need. 

This is also the case for vitamin A and vitamin B2, which are present more in ice cream than sherbet but still are not significant enough when put in the context of daily need. Ice cream contains 126mcg of vitamin A, but the daily requirement for vitamin A for males is 900mcg, and for females is 700mcg. For vitamin B2, the amount in ice cream is 0.24mg, with the daily requirement of the vitamin being 1.3mg in males and 1.1mg in females. 

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Ice cream

12

100 g 300 g 1 serving 1/2 cup - 66g

Sherbet

1

100 g 300 g

Contains more Vitamin AVitamin A	+883.3%
Contains more Vitamin EVitamin E	+2900%
Contains more Vitamin DVitamin D	+∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1Vitamin B1	+51.9%
Contains more Vitamin B2Vitamin B2	+147.4%
Contains more Vitamin B3Vitamin B3	+84.1%
Contains more Vitamin B5Vitamin B5	+159.4%
Contains more Vitamin B6Vitamin B6	+108.7%
Contains more Vitamin B12Vitamin B12	+200%
Contains more Vitamin KVitamin K	+∞%
Contains more FolateFolate	+25%
Contains more CholineCholine	+237.7%

Contains more Vitamin CVitamin C

+283.3%

Mineral Content Comparison

Sherbet and ice cream have similar mineral profiles; however, their distribution is different:

• Calcium: sherbet contains 54mg, while ice cream contains 128mg. The daily requirement is 1000mg a day.
• Sodium: sherbet contains 46mg, while ice cream contains 80mg.
• Zinc: sherbet contains 0.48mg and ice cream 0.69mg. The daily requirement is 8mg for women and 11mg for men.

Ice cream also contains 200mg of potassium and 105mg of phosphorus.

As seen in the data above, the mineral profile of sherbet and ice cream is similar when content is discussed. However, the amounts are 2-2.5x higher for ice cream. Keep in mind that again, a single serving of neither ice cream nor sherbet provides enough minerals to fill up the daily need. 

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.

Ice cream

6

100 g 300 g 1 serving 1/2 cup - 66g

Sherbet

4

100 g 300 g

Contains more MagnesiumMagnesium	+75%
Contains more CalciumCalcium	+137%
Contains more PotassiumPotassium	+107.3%
Contains more ZincZinc	+43.8%
Contains more PhosphorusPhosphorus	+162.5%
Contains more SeleniumSelenium	+20%

Contains more IronIron	+55.6%
Contains more CopperCopper	+21.7%
Contains less SodiumSodium	-42.5%
Contains more ManganeseManganese	+37.5%

Health Impact

Ice cream contains probiotic characteristics that influence the gut bacteria, the normal flora (2).

Moreover, it has been studied that ice cream having a glycemic index above the low threshold (medium levels) contributes to developing acne in teenagers (3). Ice cream intake should be moderated to prevent acne. 

Cardiovascular Health

Section reviewed by cardiologist Astghik Grigoryan

Eating ice cream and desserts can cause metabolic syndrome, which directly leads to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. This significantly increases cardiovascular risk (the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease).

Sherbet is a healthier alternative to ice cream as it contains less fat, making it a perfect choice for health-conscious people (4).

Limit your saturated fat intake to 5-6% of your daily calorie intake, as recommended by the American Heart Association. For example, if you consume 2,000 calories per day, do not consume more than 13 grams of saturated fat per day (5).

Ice cream or Sherbet? The Best Choice for Diabetics

Sherbet is sometimes considered a healthier alternative to ice cream because of the lower fat content, as well as lower calories per serving. Generally, ice cream contains more fat than sherbet. Per 100-gram serving, the amount of fats in ice cream is 11 grams, while only 2 grams in sherbet. Moreover, as mentioned above, the glycemic index for ice cream is higher than that of sherbet, which means ice cream is absorbed faster, causing a spike in blood sugar levels.

On the other hand, the sugar content of sherbets (24.32g) is slightly higher compared to ice cream (21.22g). This is also the case for carbohydrates since sherbet contains more carbs (30.4g per 100g) than ice cream (23.6g per 100g).

Hence, for individuals who have diabetes and consider consuming a refreshing dessert, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing ice cream or sherbet. It is recommended to opt for low-fat and low-sugar varieties for both and consume them in moderation as part of a healthy diet. 

References

1. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/food-serving-sizes-have-reality-check
2. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384947-2.00385-8
3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-5945-12-13
4. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2003/0415/p1769.html
5. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/saturated-fats