You can certainly eat sour cream like yogurt if you really have the desire. Of course, the cops aren’t going to come knocking at the door because you’ve gone overboard with your sour cream consumption.
The real issue with eating sour cream like yogurt is that it’s just not healthy.
To illustrate how unhealthy it is to eat sour cream in larger quantities, we provided the nutrition facts for sour cream and plain yogurt below. We used Daisy full-fat sour cream and Dannon whole milk yogurt as examples.
As you can see, compared to Dannon Plain Whole Milk Yogurt, Daisy Classic Sour Cream has higher calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Regularly consuming sour cream, with its higher calorie, saturated fat, and lower nutritional value, can potentially lead to health issues such as weight gain, high cholesterol, and an increased risk of heart disease. Additionally, without the probiotic benefits of yogurt, most sour cream doesn’t provide the same digestive support and gut health benefits.
It’s the saturated fat and cholesterol that are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and other health issues when consumed in excess. Therefore, regularly consuming large amounts of sour cream could contribute to an unhealthy diet, especially if you’re trying to manage your weight or maintain heart health.
| Daisy – Classic (Full Fat) Sour Cream | Dannon – Plain Whole Milk Yogurt | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 3/4 Cup (180g)* | 3/4 Cup (170g) |
| Calories | 360 | 110 |
| Total Fat | 30g | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 21g | 4g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 120mg | 15mg |
| Sodium | 90mg | 85mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 6g | 7g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0g |
| Total Sugars | 6g | 7g |
| Added Sugars | 0g | 0g |
| Protein | 6g | 6g |
We should quickly note that there is a major taste difference between sour cream and yogurt. Sour cream is unlike yogurt in that it is largely used to compliment other foods as a condiment rather than being consumed for direct eating like you would yogurt.
Most people don’t enjoy sour cream in large quantities on its own given its rich and tangy flavor coupled with it thick texture. We’re going to assume most readers have had both dairy products so we won’t dig super deep into the taste difference of the two.
SEE ALSO>>>Greek Yogurt vs Sour Cream
Overall, moderation is key when it comes to high-fat and high-calorie foods like sour cream. If you enjoy sour cream, consider using smaller amounts or looking for lower-fat alternatives or portion sizes.
It’s also a good idea to balance your diet with a variety of nutrient-rich foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, to ensure you’re getting a well-rounded and balanced nutritional intake.
While sour cream and yogurt might appear similar, they have distinct differences in nutritional content. It’s not recommended to treat sour cream like yogurt due to its higher calories, saturated fat, and lack of beneficial probiotics.