Ice cream is sweet and delicious, but it contains a lot of fat and sugar. So why do some people think this frozen dessert is a healthy food?
In a recent article, AtlanticUS public health historian David Merritt-Johns has revealed that decades of research have repeatedly found ice cream’s mysterious health benefits. But on the other hand, scientists admit they have no idea why this happened.
Johns’ ice cream research began in 2018 when he heard the scoop that a Ph.D. from Harvard University was awarded to Dr. Ice Cream. A student presented a study on ice cream and diabetes.
According to the study, consuming half a cup (64 grams) of ice cream daily may reduce the risk of heart disease in diabetics.
Upon further investigation, Johns discovered that the research data was more than 20 years old and itself observational. In other words, the study could not actually prove that eating ice cream per se was somehow involved in reducing the risk of heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
In another paper from 2014, researchers examined decades of diet-tracking data. The researchers found that “increased intake was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes” of yogurt, but not other dairy products.
But according to co-author of the paper, Darish Mozaffarian of Tufts University, “the conclusions weren’t exactly spelled out. They say food wasn’t related, but ice cream was.” ”.
“There is a perception that ice cream is unhealthy, but it’s full of fat, protein and vitamins. It’s healthier than bread,” Mozaffarian said. Atlantic. “Given how badly Americans eat, it’s very likely that if someone ate ice cream and reduced their starch intake, they could actually prevent diabetes.”
“Is the idea that ice cream protects the metabolism true? That would be pretty crazy. Still, it has at least some advantages,” Johns wrote, noting that the glycemic index of ice cream is lower than that of brown rice. pointed out lower. Assumed benefits of other dairy products.
Calcium along with carbohydrates and lipids
Not everyone accepted these findings positively.
“As a public health scholar, I’m not in a rush to eat more ice cream on the basis of this study,” said John Fort, a public health doctor and lecturer at Queen Mary University London, reportedly explaining. Guardian.
“There are many other possible explanations. People may be more likely to eat ice cream to cool down after a walk or exercise. Maybe I tend to opt for cream.” – Chocolate cake, which is high in calories, is also a likely substitute for other high-fat foods. ”
Aston Medical College lecturer and nutritionist Duane Mellor said, “The problem ultimately lies in associating health effects and benefits with a single food, even though we actually eat a wide variety of foods. It’s the whole eating pattern that matters.” , Guardian report.
But Mellor also acknowledged that ice cream “may contain some nutrients that may be beneficial, especially calcium,” noting its low glycemic index. However, this is also likely to exceed the sugar and calories. “So, overall, we shouldn’t consider ice cream as a healthy food, but only something that can be enjoyed in small amounts as part of an overall healthy eating pattern.”
“I think maybe ice cream is still reverse causal,” Mozaffarian said. Atlantic. “But I’m not sure, and it’s kind of frustrating,” he concludes, noting that if ice cream were a patented drug, companies would spend “a $30 million randomized controlled trial to see if the ice cream was protective.” I would have tested,” he said. Diabetes mellitus. “
