Can you eat ice cream on a diet?

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Can you eat ice cream on a diet?” and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of eating ice cream on a diet as well as the best options of ice cream on a diet.

Can you eat ice cream on a diet?

Yes, you can eat ice cream on a diet. Although ice cream is considered a high caloric food and not a good option for the ones who are trying to lose weight (1), ice cream can be consumed on a diet and not result in weight gain.

This is due to the theory underlying body weight management, in which it is stated that the body weight can be maintained when the energy ingested equals the energy expenditure. In other words, if you spend the same amount of calories that you ingest, you will not gain weight (2).

In addition, there are many types of ice cream with different ingredients and a wide nutritional profile. Low-calorie ice creams are available, such as low-fat and ice cream added with artificial sweeteners replacing sugar (3).

How can you eat ice cream on a diet without weight gain?

You can eat ice cream on a diet without weight gain if you eat enough quantities that will not exceed the daily calories allowed in your diet. Because the weight gain is a result of unbalanced caloric ingestion, if the energy intake equals the energy expenditure, there is no risk of weight gain (2).

Knowing your caloric needs, you can include ice cream in the place of an equal caloric food in your diet plan without other alterations of your habits.

Another possibility is to increase your daily energy output by an extra caloric waste, such as by exercising longer. 

In addition, it has been reported that the inclusion of resistant starch in the diet may favor energy expenditure and reduce the risks of weight gain after submitting the body to a calorie restriction diet plan (2). 

Resistant starch improves the postprandial insulin release and helps weight management. A source of resistant starch is pasta or baked potatoes that has been cooked and cooled and kept stored for 12 – 24 h. 

What are the benefits of eating ice cream on a diet?

The benefits of eating ice cream on a diet depends on the ingredients of the ice cream. There are a variety of ice cream products available in the market and therefore they can have different benefits.

The classical form of ice cream contains milk proteins and milk cream, sugar, sweeteners, which is mostly sugar, emulsifiers, flavorings and colorings (4). It may contain fruits, nuts, probiotics and fibers, as variations. Following are some benefits of the classic form of ice cream (5):

  • Source of proteins: Milk proteins are highly digestible and contribute to maintaining body tissue
  • Source of whey proteins and bioactive peptides, which helps maintaining blood pressure and prevent hypertension
  • Source of vitamin A, B12 and calcium
  • Contains conjugated linoleic acid, which has acts as anti-inflammatory

What are the risks of eating ice cream on a diet?

The risk of eating ice cream frequently is related to the reduction of the sensitivity of the reward-related brain regions. This can lead to overeating and consequently gain weight (1). Following are some risks of eating ice cream on a diet (1,4,5):

  • The high caloric amount in ice cream can lead to weight gain, when calories ingested are not wasted
  • The high amount of sugar in ice cream can also lead to negative effects in the long term, including the higher risks of developing diabetes
  • Ice cream contains a high amount of saturated fatty acids, which is related to the increase of the cholesterol levels in the blood

What are low-calorie ice cream options on a diet?

Low-calorie options of ice cream on a diet are the ice cream brands that include fruits, fibers and low-calorie sweeteners in the formulations. Some examples are (3,4):

  • Fruit ice-cream or low-fat ice cream
  • Ice cream with the addition of whey proteins replacing cream
  • Ice cream with the addition of low-calorie sweeteners (prefer stevia, which is natural) replacing sugar
  • Frozen yogurt is a less caloric form of ice cream
  • Ice cream with the addition of fibers, such as inulin, as a fat replacer

Other FAQs about Ice cream that you may be interested in.

Can you eat cookie dough ice cream when pregnant?

Can you eat ice cream after tooth extraction?

Can you eat ice cream while on your period?

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have provided an answer to the question, “Can you eat ice cream on a diet?” and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of eating ice cream on a diet as well as the best options of ice cream on a diet.

References

  1. Burger, Kyle S., and Eric Stice. Frequent ice cream consumption is associated with reduced striatal response to receipt of an ice cream–based milkshake. Am j clin nutr, 2012, 95, 810-817. 
  2. Higgins JA. Resistant starch and energy balance: impact on weight loss and maintenance. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2014, 54, 1158-66  
  3. Peres, Juliana, et al. Sensory profile, drivers of liking, and influence of information on the acceptance of low‐calorie synbiotic and probiotic chocolate ice cream. J food sci, 2018, 83, 1350-1359. 
  4. Patil, Anirudh Gururaj, and Soumitra Banerjee. Variants of ice creams and their health effects. MOJ Food Process Technol, 2017, 4, 58-64.
  5. Akram, Muhammad, et al. Health benefits of milk and milk products. Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals: Bioactive Components, Formulations and Innovations. 2020,  211-217.

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