Discover three myths about ice cream
We are used to hearing that ice cream is fattening or that sugar-free versions are better. But, is there any truth in these claims? Can ice cream be part of a healthy diet?
The vast majority of ice creams that we can buy in a supermarket are ultraprocessed. They contain so many ingredients, including added sugars (glucose, fructose, corn syrups, dextrose, etc.), sweeteners, industrially-produced trans fats, etc. As a result, they are high-calorie products with limited nutritional value.
Of course, consuming them occasionally isn’t a problem. A healthy lifestyle also includes eating some foods for pleasure, and not just to cover nutritional needs. However, in hot weather, some people eat ice cream daily. In that case, it is preferable to replace it with other, healthier, options.
How to add ice cream to our diet in a healthy way
The best way to obtain ice cream with good nutritional quality is to make it at home, which is easier than it may seem. It also offers advantages such as control over the type and quality of ingredients, as well as avoiding the purchase of products packaged in single-use plastic.
It is as simple as blending the frozen, cut fruit with a conventional or a stick blender, along with the rest of the chosen ingredients. Other recipes opt for blending the fresh ingredients, filling freezer-compatible moulds and then freezing them to enjoy at a later date.
Three myths about ice cream
Ice cream is fattening
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No single food is fattening on its own. Only a complete diet can promote weight loss, weight gain or weight maintenance. Such claims are made based on a purely calorie-focused perspective, which has been shown to not be the only factor that has an impact on weight.
Ice cream facilitates digestion
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Far from aiding digestion after a large meal, industrial ice cream is a calory-loaded dessert high in added sugars and poor-quality fats. The best option for good digestion in such cases is a sugar-free herbal tea and/or a 10–20-minute walk.
0% or sugar-free ice cream is healthier
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Industrially produced ice creams labelled as sugar-free or 0% often contain artificial sweeteners to ensure an attractive taste. This change does not make the final product healthier. In fact, intake of sweeteners is linked to changes in gut microbiome and the onset of intestinal distress.
