Eating ice cream: a sweet sin or a healthy summer habit?
Ice cream is a highly sought-after product in summer, but not all are the same: the key is in the ingredients and how often we consume them.
BarcelonaWhether on a bar terrace, in the park, or by the pool, ice cream is the king of summer. Although it's one of the most popular foods during the warmer months, it also raises many nutritional questions. How convenient is it to incorporate it into our summer diet?
Not all ice creams are the same
Whether they are healthy or not doesn't depend on flavors, or on mixing some flavors with others, or on brands, or on tubs or cones. "It all depends on the ingredients," says nutritionist and dietitian Lara Arnau, from the Context center. And she gives a clear example: a strawberry popsicle might seem like a healthier option than cream ice cream because it's fat-free, but it could be full of sugars. This distinction also applies to homemade ice cream. "The ice cream I make at home will be as healthy as I want it to be," says Arnau. Making a natural yogurt ice cream with fruit and dark chocolate and no sugar is not the same as making a chocolate ice cream. cookies and white chocolate.
In turn, he emphasizes that, as long as we eat it with reasonable frequency, it is preferable to "eat the ice cream we like the most" and, most importantly, "enjoy it."
The dose depends on the quality
"There's no recommended dose," explains Arnau. "Consumption should be higher or lower depending on the type of ice cream." The ice creams we generally find in bars and supermarkets are considered ultra-processed foods that should only be consumed "occasionally." "On the other hand, we could eat homemade ice cream made with natural products every day," he adds.
For people with intolerances and diabetes
Those with lactose intolerance can consume products labeled as lactose-free. However, the nutritionist warns that people with diabetes should be cautious with ice creams labeled "sugar-free," as they "usually contain sweeteners."
Furthermore, Arnau recommends that all consumers keep in mind that "cold products, when they enter our stomach, must warm up to be digested and absorbed," a process that could cause discomfort if eaten too quickly or on an empty stomach.
