"One Ice Cream Is a Health Food?"... US Academic Community in Uproar Again

A study has found that consuming a small amount of 'ice cream' once a day can reduce the risk of heart disease in diabetes patients, sparking controversy in the American academic community. Although such findings have been mentioned in some academic circles for over 20 years, public health experts have expressed a critical view, saying "it is too early to draw conclusions."

The American weekly magazine The Atlantic recently reported on a Harvard University study that found consuming half a cup (64g) of ice cream daily lowers the risk of heart disease in diabetes patients.

Although this study was conducted in 2018, some American academics have long suggested the possibility that ice cream consumption may have some positive health effects.

For example, in 2002, a Harvard research team surveyed 5,000 American adults and reported that "dairy-based desserts were found to reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance syndrome by 2.5 times compared to milk."

Ice Cream [Image source=Pixabay]

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However, the research team at the time did not conclude that ice cream was beneficial to health. Instead, they focused more on the health benefits of other fermented dairy products such as sugar-free yogurt.

Regarding this, The Atlantic added, "Could ice cream protect the body's metabolism? It still sounds like bonkers, but there are some advantages. The glycemic index of ice cream is even lower than that of brown rice."

The 'health benefits of ice cream' remain a controversial topic in academia. The British media outlet The Guardian reported on the issue on the 15th (local time), stating that "British scientists are not very positive about such claims."

John Ford, a British public health expert, told The Guardian, "As a scholar and public health professional, I would not recommend people consume ice cream based on these studies."

He pointed out, "There are many other interpretations for the improved health of participants in the experiments. They might have walked or exercised before consuming ice cream. Perhaps people replaced much higher-calorie desserts like chocolate cake with ice cream."

Duane Meller, a lecturer at Aston Medical School in the UK, also emphasized, "Research examining the benefits of food intake is usually conducted through questionnaires. In such surveys, analysis of overall lifestyle can be overlooked."

He added, "There may be beneficial nutrients like calcium in ice cream, but more attention should be paid to its high sugar content and calories. I recommend enjoying ice cream only in small amounts as a treat, not as a health food."

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