Ice Cream and Your Health

Ice cream is good for you—just begin with the milk, the standard element of this wonderful treat. Whole cow’s milk has 8 grams protein, 276 milligrams calcium, 395 IU of Vitamin A, 124 IU of Vitamin D, and 205 milligrams of phosphorous for every one cup serving. A typical 1-quart homemade ice cream recipe holds two cups of milk, so you get to consume a portion of the milk’s nutrients by having one cup of ice cream.

Ice cream and health may sound mismatched, and extremely unlikely partners. But to many people who do not get enough calcium, vitamin D, and potassium (especially in the United States wherein the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend three servings of milk per day), ice cream is an easy and enjoyable way to get nourished with the missing nutrients.

Consumers may be concerned though about the calories, fat, and sugar content in ice cream, particularly when it comes to the quality and super-premium varieties. These two contain large amounts of butterfat which makes their flavor and grain more dense, smooth and rich than the standard kind. They are thick, creamy and smacks really good that you’re tempted to eat more. But the key in increasing the health benefits of ice cream and enjoying a cone without the guilt is portion control. Eat only a cup and no more so there would be less calorie, fat and sugar intake.

A comparative chart from the Dairy Council of California indicates the calories, fat and sugar content of ice cream compared with other dairy sweets. Half a cup of ice cream has 137 kilocalories, 14 grams sugar, 7.3 grams total fat, 10% cholesterol, 53 milligrams sodium, and 16 grams carbohydrates. Meanwhile, low fat ice cream has the same amount of kilocalories, 17 grams sugar, 3.7 grams total fat, 7% cholesterol, 56 milligrams sodium, and 22 grams carbohydrates. Lastly, sherbet has 107 kilocalories, 18 grams sugar, 1.5 grams total fat, 0% cholesterol, 34 milligrams sodium, and 23 grams carbohydrates.

With these figures in mind, ice cream and wellness can work together to proportion both nutrients and enjoyment in eating ice cream. Consumers can choose knowledgeably by reading the nutritional label on the ice cream canister. Those on a special low fat diet can still have their ice cream by picking out those that have lower in fat. Just read the label and check for the portion of milk or butterfat present.

The International Dairy Foods Association defines some terms on the labelling of ice cream based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. Regular ice cream has a minimum of 10% milk fat. Reduced fat ice cream contains a minimum of 25% less fat than the regular ice cream from the same brand. Light ice cream contains 33% fewer calories and 50% less fat than the regular equivalent. Low-fat ice cream may have a maximum of 3 grams of fat for every half-cup serving. Lastly, nonfat ice cream has 0.5 grams of fat per serving.

Avoid piling on toppings when you eat your ice cream, particularly when going out. Enjoy instead what’s already in your ice cream—the freshness of its factors and the basic flavors that have become your favorite.