Is Ice Cream Bad For You?
Short answer
Ice cream is often high in sugar and fat. Eat the right variety in the right context, however, and you can avoid doing too much damage to your body.
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
There's a huge range of ice creams that are on the market. Some are loaded with sugar, fat, and dairy; there's also low-sugar, low-fat, and dairy-free varieties to choose from. Some ice creams are peppered with pistachios and other nuts. Nobody should be wolfing down ice cream all day; eat a moderate amount of the right kind for you in the right context, however, and you'll probably be fine.
Ice cream is best as a dessert - eat it after a meal. That's because there's not much fiber in ice cream to speak of. Eating ice cream as a standalone is hard on the body - it delivers sugar to the blood quickly, which can bring on a blood sugar spike. Enough of those over the long-term, and you can throw your glucose response and metabolism out of wack, increasing your risk of metabolic disorder, glucose sensitivity, or diabetes.
Eat ice cream after a meal with fiber, however, and you'll slow the rate at which it's absorbed into the body. That'll blunt the effects of all that sugar - it'll soften up your glucose response and cushion the impact on your metabolism.
Low-fat and low-sugar ice cream are popular alternatives for those with a sweet tooth who are looking to cut back on ice cream's sugar content. If you do choose a low-sugar ice cream, avoid or use caution with varieties that use artificial sweeteners; some are controversial and the subject of pressure from consumer advocacy groups who believe their safety as food additives is suspect. Moreover, low-fat and low-sugar ice creams may fail to satiate; they leave you hungry for more, which might inspire some to go in for a second or third serving. Doing this effectively cancels out any upsides from choosing a healthier variety.
Eat your ice cream with nuts or fruit if you can. Pistachios, almonds or strawberries in ice cream do not make a complete meal. What they do accomplish is a boost to ice cream's nutritional content. A scoop already comes with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins B, D, E, and K; adding in fruit or nuts can fortify these nutrients and push ice cream towards being a slightly healthier choice.
Ice cream made with coconut oil is a bit better for you than conventional varieties. Coconut oil has medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs. They've got antioxidant properties, can raise your "good" cholesterol, and are metabolized differently than other fats.
Possible short-term side effects
Possible long-term side effects
- weight gain, obesity
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type 2 diabetes
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heart disease
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hypertension
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metabolic disorder
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- source of:
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calcium
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phosphorus
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vitamin b, d, e, and k
Healthier alternatives
- homemade ice cream with real, fresh ingredients
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