Bad effects of ice cream
SHOULD YOU AVOID ICE CREAM?
There is only one explanation for your need for a frozen
dessert. Is ice cream, however, unhealthy? Instead, you should pick from a wide
variety of healthy options, yet... life is short.
That's exactly how everything played out. With a spoon in
hand, you sat on the couch and indulged in a few spoonfuls of your preferred
ice cream. Suddenly, you found yourself staring at an empty carton with Rocky
Road splatter all over your chin. You wailed, "Not again. Is ice cream
truly terrible for you, you thought as you debated going back to the freezer.
Each of us has experienced it, some of us more frequently
than we'd like to acknowledge. Ice cream is incredibly creamy, chilly, and
soothing. Delicious, too. Once you've had that first spoonful, you can't stop
eating it. Yes, ice cream has a lot of sugar and is heavy in fat, but as it
melts on your tongue, you don't think about those nutritional drawbacks.
Is ice cream unhealthy? Is it possible to indulge in it
occasionally, guilt-free? Yes and again.
What
Makes Ice Cream Harmful?
Is ice cream bad for you? An ice cream cone filled with
scoops, perhaps. Is ice cream bad for you? is answered by its calories, sugar,
and fat.
For those of us who yearn for a tub of the mint chocolate chip
at the end (or beginning, middle, or beginning) of the day, be warned that this
section may be gloomy. Given that, it's critical to understand what we put in
our bodies, thus the following is the unpleasant reality about our go-to creamy
treat.
There's a very significant drawback to ice cream. This
delectable dessert should only be consumed in moderation due to the high sugar
and fat levels as well as a component that may induce fatal gastrointestinal
problems. Here are the specifics of the bad news, keeping that in mind.
1.
Calories
Ben & Jerry's Caramel Chocolate Cheesecake Ice Cream
Truffles have 300 calories in just a half-cup portion (105 grams). Would you
like a full pint, which has four servings and is easy to wolf down? That
translates to a staggering 1,200 calories. This is more than half of your
recommended daily calorie intake of 2,000 to 2,500 calories.
2. Fat
The same Ben & Jerry's ice cream has 19 g of fat per
half-cup serving, 10 g of which are saturated fats, the "bad" sort
that increases LDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association advises us to
limit our fat intake and reduce saturated fat, making sure it doesn't account
for more than 5 to 6 percent of our total calories—or roughly 16 g per day for
a person following a 2,000-calorie diet. Therefore, one serving of our selected
sample goes beyond that sum.
3.
Sugar
Sugar only has a positive effect on flavor. It causes us to
absorb fewer vitamins and minerals, spikes our blood sugar levels quickly and
can drain calcium from our bones. Additionally, consuming sugar worsens
conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. For
women, the American Heart Association advises a daily maximum of 24 g of added
sugar, whereas for men it is 36 g. About 23 g of sugar is present in one dish
of ice cream. (Read our article Why Is Sugar Bad for You to understand more
about sugar's drawbacks.)
4.
Carbohydrates
Ice cream contains a lot of carbohydrates, which, if not
immediately burned off, can be stored as fat. Our glucose levels can be
severely affected by excessive carbohydrate intake, which increases our
chance of developing diabetes.
5.
Trehalose
According to Dr. Francis Collins of the National Institutes
of Health, this artificial sugar functions as a sweetener and a texturizing
agent. Additionally, according to him in a blog post on the NIH website, it
"depresses the freezing point of food," making it a useful addition
to ice cream. The issue is that trehalose has been associated with an increase
in potentially fatal infections caused by the common gut bacterium Clostridium
difficile (C diff). Collins claims that certain store-bought ice creams have
trehalose quantities of up to 11%.
6.
Listeriosis
Listeria is a bacterium that has been increasingly
discovered in ice cream products and can cause serious disease, especially in
people with compromised immune systems.
Ice
Cream's Health Benefits
There are strong arguments in favor of giving up ice cream
given all of the aforementioned factors. Since maintaining a healthy and fit
lifestyle requires a wise diet, however, if the idea of permanently removing
this chilly delicacy from your menu offends you, we may be able to help you
find one or two ways to enjoy it without feeling too bad about it. Even though we
continue to urge "moderation," it is yet crucial to be realistic.
First, take into account the fact that ice cream might make
you joyful (no shocker here). Serotonin, a neurotransmitter frequently referred
to as the "feel-good hormone," can be increased by indulging in this
indulgence. Carbohydrates are believed to play a role in this process.
Another benefit, according to registered dietitian and
nutritionist Laura Hartung, located in Boston, is that "even though ice
cream is calorically dense, it does give some nutritional value:
Magnesium, calcium, and potassium are all nutrients found in
ice cream that support normal blood pressure levels. As we all know, calcium is
necessary for healthy bones and teeth.
A half-cup serving of ice cream also contains 5 to 9 grams
of protein, which can increase energy levels and make us feel fuller for
longer.
Our favorite frozen treat also contains phosphorus, vitamin
B6, vitamin A, thiamin, and riboflavin.
Let's face it, consuming a pint of Chunky Monkey won't do
much to improve our nutritional status, but it will temporarily distract you
from thinking about whether ice cream is healthy.
Ice cream consumption can enhance our ability to absorb
calcium. In a short trial, Dutch researchers served milk and two varieties of
calcium-fortified ice cream to 16 volunteers as part of their breakfast (please
sign me up for the next study!). They wanted to know if adding extra calcium to
ice cream would improve calcium absorption. They discovered that calcium from
ice cream was just as easily absorbed as calcium from milk. Or, to put it
another way, "Ice cream may be a good vehicle for delivery of
calcium," as the researchers noted. Woo-hoo!
Is it
still nutritious?
So, is it possible to have ice cream guilt-free? Of course,
Hartung responds. "Ice cream in the proportion of half a cup can be
incorporated into a balanced diet. With pals, have fun. accentuate the
excellent sensory qualities and sweet, creamy flavors of ice cream.
However, moderation and portion management are crucial in
everything. Those of us who find it difficult to put down the spoon may need to
limit this dessert to once or twice a week, while some may be able to
incorporate that half-cup into an overall balanced diet. One serving, one pint,
or one day of ice cream consumption won't harm you, claims Hartung. "What
matters is what you're doing consistently."
That being said, it could be healthier to choose a different
dessert if eating ice cream makes you overeat or causes you to experience guilt
or despair.
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