Dietitians Reveal the Surprising Health Benefits of ICE

Good news for Ben and Jerry’s fans.

If you’re going to be indulging in a lot of dessert this Fourth of July weekend, ice cream is your best bet.

According to dietitians, there are surprising health benefits, especially when compared to other sweets that have no nutritional value.

A two-thirds cup serving of ice cream is a good source of calcium, which helps build strong bones and muscles.

Depending on the brand, some ice creams contain about six grams of protein per serving, which is equivalent to the amount in an egg.

Dietitians say if you’re going to be eating a lot of dessert this Fourth of July weekend, you might want to turn it into ice cream.

The combination of protein and moderate fat content also slows the release of sugar into the blood, preventing sharp spikes in blood sugar levels associated with diabetes.

For example, candies like Sour Patch Kids contain 0 grams of fat and virtually no protein or fiber.

All three of these slow the absorption of carbohydrates into the blood. Over time, repeated blood sugar spikes can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Ice cream is definitely not healthy. A two-thirds cup serving of Ben and Jerry’s Brownie Delight, for example, contains half the recommended amount of saturated fat for an adult in an entire day.

And while the blood sugar spike may be lower than when you eat sweets, it’s still moderate and could cause harm over time.

A single serving also contains two-thirds of an adult’s recommended daily sugar intake. And most people don’t stop at one serving.

However, dietitian Shelley Balls told Yahoo life that ice cream has the upper hand over other less nutritious desserts.

She pointed out that a two-thirds cup serving of ice cream contains about 12 percent of the recommended daily amount of calcium.

Who else ate too much on this Independence Day?

She said: ‘Calcium is a nutrient that is typically under-consumed in the American diet, so it’s good news that when we do decide to indulge in a sweet treat, it can also provide some nutritional benefits.’

Dietitian Stephanie Van’t Zelfden told Yahoo Life that the combination of moderate fat and protein makes it a good option for diabetics.

By combining fat and protein with sugar, “you reduce the spikes in your blood sugar that you can get when you eat low-fat desserts, like sorbet,” she said.