Q: Ice cream in the summer is my passion. Is going for fat-free ice cream (not frozen yogurt) really better for me than regular ice cream? Or is it more about the portion size and how often I indulge?

A: There is one main type of artery-clogging fat that all Americans should try to cut back on to keep their hearts strong and healthy and to help prevent heart disease (the No. 1 killer of American men and women): saturated fat.

We also need to watch our calorie intake, as we are a nation of overweight individuals—a situation that is associated with increased risk of disease.

Full-fat premium ice cream contains a staggering amount of saturated fat and calories—and that’s before all the toppings or the gargantuan serving sizes that so many of us opt for at the counter.

We should all take note of the potential damage regular consumption of these luscious and creamy treats could take on our arteries and waistlines. I recommend delicious and satisfying fat-free or low-fat ice cream choices as your summer treat instead.

Here’s a comparison of Cold Stone Creamery’s ice cream choices to drive home this point (note that these are calorie and fat comparisons of just the ice cream and not the insane amount of additional calories and fat that come along with the “extras” like waffle cones, cookies brownies, candy or whipped toppings):

• 1 small cup full-fat Cookie Batter Ice Cream: 380 calories, 11 grams saturated fat.
• 1 large cup full-fat Cookie Batter Ice Cream: 900 calories(!), 26 grams saturated fat.
• 1 small cup fat-free Raspberry Sorbet: 160 calories, 0 grams saturated fat.
• 1 large cup fat-free Raspberry Sorbet: 390 calories, 0 grams saturated fat.

So, the moral of the story is to enjoy your passion for summer ice cream treats but make your choices wisely most of the time.

Go for the sorbets, fat-free and low-fat single scoops whenever possible, and your heart and waistline will surely appreciate it!