Ice Cream Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

Ice cream can be treated, as it is cold, creamy, flavours and sweet.

So, however, like many other sugary treats, it is loaded with sugar, calories, and even ice cream fat. Its naturally, you must be wonder about the potential downsides of these kinds of desserts, and even you can include it in a healthy diet.

This research article indicates everything that you must need to know about ice cream ingredients.

Ice cream recipe nutrition 

The ice cream recipe nutrition profile must vary depending on ice cream brands, flavours, and types.

The below table highlights the nutrients levels in 4 common varieties of vanilla ice cream per 1/2-cup about (65 to 92-gram):

 

	Regular	Premium	Low-Fat	No added sugar
Calories	140	210	130	115
Total fat	7 grams	13 grams	2.5 grams	5 grams
Cholesterol	30 mg	70 mg	10 mg	18 mg
Protein	2 Grams	3 Grams	3 Grams	3 Grams
Total carbs	17 grams	20 grams	17 grams	15 grams
Sugar	14 grams	19 grams	13 grams	4 grams

 

In some of the cases, most of the premium ice cream, which is processed foods to be richer and even creamier than your regular ice creams, and it is also higher in fat, sugar, and calories.

Interestingly to know that ice cream with low-fat or no-sugar-added products is often promoted as healthier foods, these kinds of choices may also contain around about the same amount of calories as in regular ice cream.

Additionally, some products without added sugar usually sweeteners harbour like your sugar alcohols, which may cause digestive distress that not good for your health, including gas and bloating, in some individuals.

Most of the ice creams are known as a rich source of calcium and phosphorus, which provides about 6 to 10% of the Daily Value (DV), and respectively, per 1/2-cup about (65-gram) serving. These both minerals are more important for skeletal health and muscle function.

This mineral does not compensate for sugar load and heavy calories in ice creams cone yet.

 

SUMMARY

Most of the ice cream with added sugar and high in calories while low in a nutrient. On other side no-sugar and low-fat added choices which are commonly marketed as healthier, but they are still calorie-dense and may also contain various kinds of sweeteners.

Potential Downsides 

Like most of the processed desserts, ice cream has also several other health drawbacks (side effects of ice cream) to keep in mind.

 

Added High Sugar

There is no secret that ice cream is loaded with high sugar.

Many of the varieties contain 12 to 24 grams of added sugar in just a 1/2-cup about (65-gram) serving.

It is also recommended you that added sugars in the limit to under 10% levels of your daily calories, or it’s about 50 grams of sugar for a 2,000-calorie diet.

So, one to two small ice cream serving, it can easily push you toward this daily limit.

The research links additionally, excessive sugar intake into several physical health conditions, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and another fatty liver disease.

Calorie-dense and low in nutrients

Ice cream is laden with 2 scoops of ice cream calories but offers few nutrients, aside from phosphorus and calcium.

If you eat ice cream on an occasional treat, then you should not a little bit worry about its lack of nutrients. So, however, if you replace nutrient-dense foods often, like your vegetables, fruits, or whole it grains with your ice cream, your diet could be lacking necessary minerals and vitamins. And plus ice creams with high calories may promote weight gain if you eat it too much.

May contain unhealthy additives

Most of the ice creams are highly processed and these kinds of ice cream ingredients include additives and artificial flavours.

Some of the preservatives and artificial ingredients have been associated with negative health effects, while others have been proven as safe and secure.

Must note, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently banned eight artificial flavourings,  which can cause damage your health, in which including benzophenone, given their symptoms or associations with cancer in animal studies. These compounds were commonly used in the ice cream and other desserts.

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Additionally, processed ice creams regularly harbour artificial food colouring health risks (artificial food dyes), such as Blue No. 2 (indigo carmine) and Red No. 3 (erythrosine). Although they are all approved by the FDA, some research article links these dyes to behavioural issues and hyperactivity in children.

Guar gum ingredients, which is used to texturize and thicken foods, is also be commonly used in ice cream. It is generally considered as secure and safe but it has been associated with mild side effects, such as gas, bloating, and cramps.

What is more,  the test-tube and the animal research suggest that carrageenan, which mostly found in ice cream, may promote intestinal inflammation?

SUMMARY

This summary claims that Ice cream has several kinds of downsides.  Yes, it is low in nutrients, high in added calories and sugar, and it may also contain artificial ingredients.

Is ice cream a healthy diet? 

It is commonly acceptable to enjoy an occasional dessert it is known as part of a healthy diet. The key is moderation.

Overindulging avoid, try some pre-portioned products like ice cream mini containers or ice creams bars. Or of course, you can also use small bowls rather than large ones to keep your position and even portions in check.

Remember that even low sugar or low-fat varieties may appear as healthier, but they are not necessarily as more nutritious or even low level in calories than other options, and they also may contain several artificial ingredients. You must use its discretion by reading labels carefully.

SUMMARY

Ice cream can be known as part of a balanced diet, but it is important to practice position or portion control and moderate your intake level.

The bottom line

Ice cream is a refreshing and sweet treat.

So, however, it is high in calories, sugar, and possibly artificial and additives ingredients.

And you should read its labels carefully if you want a more and more wholesome dessert.

Ice cream can be a well-balanced diet and even the part of healthy diet food if consumed it an occasion and in moderation as well. This article is published by one of the very famous nutrition Kaitlyn Berkheiser. Kaitlyn is passionate about relaying well-founded and evidence-based nutrition information to her patients and the general public.