Hot chocolate may be the ideal winter treat, but when the temperature rises, it’s all about desserts that keep you cool. That’s why ice cream reigns supreme during the summer: the sweet, creamy concoction is ideal for enjoying in the sweltering heat, even if you run the risk of brain freeze.
Like many desserts, of course, ice cream gets a bad rap – something that should only be enjoyed occasionally due to its high sugar and fat content. However, experts say ice cream isn’t exactly the villain in your summer story… and may actually have some surprising health benefits. Here’s what you should know.
Does ice cream have nutritional benefits?
Dietitian Shelley’s Balls told Yahoo Life that a two-thirds-cup serving of dairy ice cream is a good source of calcium — about 12 percent of the recommended daily amount.
While the exact amount of calcium varies from brand to brand, Balls says, “Calcium is typically an underconsumed nutrient in the American dietary pattern, so it’s great news that when we decide to enjoy a sweet treat, it can also provide some nutrients. benefits.”
Another ice cream win? Balls says ice cream can also provide about six grams of protein per serving, depending on the brand — that’s the same amount of protein found in a single hard-boiled egg or 1 ounce. portion of almonds.
Dietitian Stephanie Van’t Zelfden told Yahoo Life that she often recommends ice cream as a dessert option to her clients with diabetes or blood sugar issues because it contains fat and protein. Combining fat and protein with sugar “reduces the blood sugar spikes you might see when eating low-fat desserts like ice cream,” she explains.
How can you make ice cream more nutritious?
For the record: You don’t need to “maximize the nutrition of every food,” says Zelfden. “Ice cream is one of those foods we don’t eat because of nutrition, and that’s okay,” she says. “The ‘healthiest’ ice cream is the one that fills the heart and stomach.”
Instead of eating the healthier ice cream that you might not like as much, focus on enjoying the ice cream you like most in moderation. This might mean having your favorite sundae only on Fridays instead of eating a subpar “healthy” version more often during the week.
That said, there are ways to make ice cream a little more nutritious – if that’s something you want. For example, you can increase the nutritional profile of ice cream by making it at home, such as in a traditional ice cream maker or a tool like the Ninja Creami.
(Many people are now making “protein ice cream” in their Ninja Creami, using frozen ingredients typically found in a protein shake. It will never taste the same as a McFlurry, but it can be a tastier substitute for a shake.)
The more traditional homemade ice cream (which is made more to give joy than to hit macros) still allows you to control the amount of sugar, type of milk and other ingredients in the base. Balls notes that you can “add fruits, nuts, peanut butter, etc., to make [your ice cream] unique and richest in nutrients.
What can I add to my ice cream to make it more filling?
Dietitian Kylie Bensley, founder of the Sulinu surgical nutrition program, told Yahoo Life that ice cream is naturally filling due to its fat content. However, you can play around with adding things like toppings to increase the fiber, protein, and healthy fat content. This could be like adding almonds to your sundae, chopping up strawberries or bananas, or even making a milkshake with a handful of frozen fruit.
If you like the taste, you can also get more creative and add things like chia seeds, hemp seeds, or even oats to your ice cream, which can add a unique flavor and an additional nutritional boost of fiber and protein.
I’ve heard nasty things about soft serve machines…but I love it. Help!
You may have heard stories about soft serve machines that contain mold or that have never been cleaned. It is true that soft serve machines can develop dangerous bacteria or mold if not cleaned properly every 10 to 24 hours.
Food scientist Bryan Quoc Le told Yahoo Life that most soft-serve ice cream machines have “acceptable microbiological safety profiles,” meaning they didn’t have concerning levels of bacteria. In a study Conducted on soft-serve ice cream machines, researchers found that 74% of machines in retail locations delivered soft-serve ice cream without problems, Le says.
However, says Le, the remaining 26% was of poor quality, producing soft serves that contained high levels of bacteria. The microorganisms found in these soft serve machines may “cause stomach upset or diarrhea, but are unlikely to pose a serious health problem with long-term complications,” says Le.
If you don’t want to risk getting sick, there are ways to get that smooth serving consistency at home, like with no-churn ice cream recipes. You can also use a home ice cream maker to prepare ice cream and other frozen treats with a smooth consistency.
