Scoop off that weight?

Can occasional ice cream consumption help regulate bodyweight?

Before we get carried away with dreams of an “Atkins-esque” diet, where breakfast, lunch and dinner comprise of mint choc chip and cookie dough, ice should still be viewed as a treat and enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

However, there is increasing research outlining the ability of ice cream, when eaten as an occasional indulgence, to regulate bodyweight and fat absorption. It has even been said that those who tuck in to the odd bowl of ice cream a week are rewarded with augmented weight loss in comparison to those who chose complete abstinence from the frozen dessert. 

Before you head to load up your freezer with delights from beckleberry’s (not that we’d begrudge you!), remember that too much of a good thing can quickly make its presence felt via the hips, belly and countless other unwanted places.

 

One of the key benefits of ice cream is that it may satisfy your cravings better than any other food. This can in part by attributed to the combination of protein and fat from the milk and cream. A diet rich in protein has been proven to leave consumers feeling fuller for longer whilst curbing appetite. With ice cream packing between 5 and 7 grams of protein per 100g, it can hardly be labelled as a “high protein snack” nevertheless its ability to satisfy hunger with greater efficacy than other ambient desserts is unquestionable.

The major proponent with regards to weight loss is again linked to the dairy content; calcium. It is said that only 4% of women over 50 meet the daily 1,200 mg goal, with the average female daily calcium intake at a miniscule 652 mg. More shockingly, less than one third of men reach these same targets.

This is where our favoured frozen treat comes in to its own. Opting for ice cream as dessert of more contemporary options can augment daily calcium intake significantly. A standard portion of 3 scoops provides an impressive 260mg of calcium, which is over 20% of a females required intake.

Calcium also enjoys a reputation in dieting circles as a "secret" slim down ingredient. In a recent study, overweight people who took a calcium supplement lost 38% more body fat than those who ate the same reduced-calorie diet without the supplement.  In fact, those with a diet deficient in calcium may even retain more wait for longer as a paucity of the vitamin can trigger the body to store fat cells in abundance.

Therefore, by utilising a calcium supplement and making sure ice cream is your allocated weekly treat, you are increasing your chances of regulating body weight and keeping off unwanted fat to a greater degree than those who don’t partake of the occasional banana split. 

Evidently, this is a speculative article with a largely light hearted tone which should not be accepted as stone cold fact. There are no replacements for a healthy diet with plenty of exercise and ice cream should always remain a treat to be enjoyed in moderation.

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