Ice cream: useful properties and contraindications

The taste of ice cream is familiar to us since childhood. The dessert, which is a pleasant snack on a hot day, is loved by children and their parents. However, many sweet-tooth eaters are interested in the topic of harm and benefits of ice cream for the body. This article will answer these questions.

Ice cream production technology

There are two main production technologies. Let us analyze each of them separately.

Tempered ice cream (classic)
Manufactured under the condition of compulsory deep freezing at a temperature not exceeding -18 ° C. The product is stored at -55°С. Large enterprises that produce classic ice cream according to GOST 31457-2012g adhere to the following preparation technology:

• Acceptance of ingredients.
• Preparation of raw materials, calculation of recipes, preparation of mixtures.
• Filtration.
• Pasteurization (at +85 °С).
• Homogenization of mixtures.
• Add flavoring and coloring agents if necessary.
• Freezing and cooling. Increase product volume by 2 times.
• Filling ready product.
• Tempering.
• Packaging.

Soft ice-cream
Product does not require heavy freezing, its temperature is only 4-6 ° C. Ready for consumption immediately after preparation. This ice cream is made in freezers. Such a machine mixes, cools and packages the dessert by itself. While hardened ice cream can only be made at industrial plants, soft ice cream is often made right in front of the customer.

What is the difference between plombir and cream ice cream

It is easy to confuse plombir and cream ice cream, since they are so similar in taste and appearance. But still there is a difference between them.

According to state standards, fatty ice cream has 15-20% of milk fat. In the classic - about 13%. But in the creamy ice cream milk fat is no more than 10%.

The caloric value of the ice cream is 400 kcal per 100 grams of product. In cream ice cream, this figure drops to 290 kcal. This difference appears due to the presence of eggs and butter in the composition of the ice cream.

What is the difference between sherbet and sorbet and ice cream

In addition to the different taste, these desserts differ in composition. As an example, take the milk fat content. Classic ice cream should have at least 10% of it. In sherbet - only 1-2%, but in sorbet there is none at all.

Composition and calories

People who watch their figure often wonder how many calories are in an ice cream cone. Below is the caloric content of the main types of this dessert per 100 grams of product.

• Plombir - 227 kcal
• Creamy - 179 kcal
• Chocolate - 158 kcal
• Dairy - 126 kcal
• Eskimo - 270 kcal
• Banana - 231 kcal
• Crème Brûlée - 235 kcal
• sour milk - 166 kcal

It is worth remembering that manufacturers like to add various toppings, nuts and sprinkles to the dessert, which significantly increase the caloric value of the product. It is also necessary to look at the composition of the ice cream on the label when purchasing. Some manufacturers make ice cream according to their own technologies, and from this the caloric value of the product can change.

The benefits of ice cream

Ice cream is a natural product. There are still debates about how useful this dessert is for the body. Let's find out.

For women

Women should not avoid snacking on ice cream. Even if you are watching your figure and counting every calorie you eat, here are some facts confirming the benefits of a cold dessert for the female body.

Ice cream is a great snack. Because of its high fat content, it is completely digested by the body and quickly brings a feeling of satiety. Therefore, even a small portion will help to satisfy the hunger for the next few hours.

The ice cream contains a lot of cream and milk, which contain L-tryptophan. This is a natural tranquilizer, which stimulates the production of serotonin - the hormone of joy. Therefore, for women during PMS, ice cream will be extremely useful, because it will help maintain a good mood.

For men

Many men are engaged in sports to increase their muscle mass. But no body can meet this requirement without the necessary elements - calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and carotene. All of these ingredients are present in ice cream because it contains a lot of milk.

In addition, manufacturers often add various components to the dessert. For example, grated chocolate, nuts or berries. These products also contain many vitamins and useful elements. They improve memory and stimulate the work of the brain.

When pregnant

During pregnancy, women are faced with a huge number of food restrictions. If we talk about ice cream, you can eat it. It helps to lift the mood, saturates the mother's body with calcium, which her baby needs, has a good caloric value. This is important for those who poorly gain weight during pregnancy. It is worth very carefully to choose a cold dessert. Not all manufacturers follow GOST, and while a deviation from the standards will not harm most people, for a pregnant mother it can be critical. You should choose a dessert made from natural ingredients and labeled "GOST".

When breastfeeding

After childbirth, the restrictions on food are not removed. The child will be fed by the mother's milk for about a year, so it will be directly affected by her diet. You should not refuse to eat ice cream at all, but it is better to wait until the baby is three to five months old.

When choosing a dessert, you need to carefully read the composition. Between the dairy and fruit should always choose the first. It has more cow's milk, but half the sugar. The ideal choice would be a classic ice cream without any additives.

In infants often have allergic reactions to many products. Specifically in the composition of ice cream potential allergens can be cocoa beans, chocolate, vanilla, and starch. If you notice your child is allergic to ice cream, avoid eating it completely.

Everything is good in moderation. Even if the infant's body can handle a cold dessert, you should not abuse it. Two or three cones a week is the maximum. It is worth limiting yourself from more until the breastfeeding period is over.

For kids

All children love ice cream. With the fact that it has a delicious taste, you can not argue. And if we consider the useful properties of this dessert, it is easy to come to the conclusion that for the immature baby's body it is a must.

Any type of ice cream contains a lot of useful elements. The most necessary one for children is calcium. To strengthen the child's bones, the body should have enough calcium, which is so much in the frozen dessert.

Ice cream has about four times more carbohydrates than milk. Because of this, it is almost completely absorbed by the body and quickly satiates.

Having a good mood at all times is extremely important. And what dessert makes a child happier than an ice cream cone?

Is it okay to eat ice cream while losing weight?

The question that torments all those who lose weight is whether it is allowed to eat ice cream when losing weight. There are many studies. Qualified nutritionists and experts argue on this topic for more than a year. While losing weight, it is possible and even necessary to eat ice cream. Why? Let's look into it now.

The first rule - everything is good in moderation. You can lose weight by snacking on a cold dessert every day, but only if it fits into the total norm of calories for the day.

It has already been mentioned more than once that ice cream is high in calcium. In addition to strengthening the body, this element contributes to weight loss. Studies have been conducted that found that when an additional source of calcium was added to the diet, extra weight was lost by 30-37% more than when the daily calorie allowance was normally met.

The process of burning excess weight occurs only with normal metabolism. The amino acids contained in large quantities in ice cream can help speed it up.

You can replace fast food with ice cream. If you compare a quick snack "unhealthy" food and ice cream, it is better to prefer the latter. First, its composition unconditionally wins any dish of fast food. Secondly, the large amount of carbohydrates and fats contributes to a quick sense of satiety. And in the "harmful" food so much seasoning that the taste buds are clogged, and the person simply can not understand whether he was full or not yet.

Girls are familiar with the feeling when they want "something sweet" while on a diet. It is known that hunger can be physical and psychological. Quenching the latter is just as important as the former. Ice cream can easily and safely satisfy both psychological and physical hunger. The peculiarities of the eating behavior of almost all people are the following: if you adhere to strict prohibitions for a long time, then sooner or later there will be a so-called "breakdown". To avoid this, you need to indulge yourself from time to time, and a cone of your favorite ice cream will be a great option for a snack.

There is a special diet on ice cream. American nutritionist Holly Mc Korda has developed a diet system in which, for three days, the slimmer eats only a cold dessert. Portions are divided by 200 grams for 5 meals a day.

It is important to observe the caloric content of the daily diet - up to 1000 kcal. This means that the ice cream for such a diet must be chosen without any additives, ideally the classic plombir or creamy. About the nutritional value of different types of ice cream has been mentioned above.

Ice cream is eaten cold. When the chilled product enters the body, the process of energy production is started in order to keep and maintain a normal body temperature. You can't burn a lot of calories that way, but it's a nice perk nonetheless.

To summarize, we can conclude that it is possible to eat ice cream while losing weight. Consuming moderate portions 2-3 times a week will not lead to excess weight.

Ice cream in medicine

Doctors have long argued about the benefits of ice cream. However, more recently, its benefits have been recognized, and even the most useful type was named - dairy (without any additives).

For diabetes mellitus

A few decades ago, doctors forbade the use of ice cream for diabetic patients. However, technology has evolved, and now the vast majority of medical professionals have a contrary opinion on this matter. It's not about changing the composition of ice cream or the mutation of the disease. It's just that now diabetic patients can monitor and regulate their blood glycemic levels on their own.

At this time, doctors recommend limiting ice cream consumption to small portions no more than once a week. However, if a person has an average or severe stage of diabetes, the cold dessert is strictly forbidden.

Even those who can eat ice cream, you should follow some rules in the process of consumption. For example, you can not eat ice cream with coffee or tea. Otherwise, all the products will be absorbed many times faster, and this will lead to a sharp spike in blood glucose.

The producers take into account the consumers' needs and produce ice cream without natural sugar in its composition. However, such a cone can be more harmful than a portion of a natural product. Many sugar substitutes for the diabetic patient are an order of magnitude more dangerous than regular sugar.

When choosing between fruit ice and regular ice cream, diabetics prefer the latter. Fruit ice is frozen juice. Such a product is low in calories, so when it enters the body, it is digested very quickly. This leads to a spike in blood sugar.

Important: The glycemic index of ice cream from 35 to 90 units.

In pancreatitis.

People with pancreatitis have to face a lot of restrictions in food. Although all gastroenterologists categorically forbid the consumption of ice cream in this disease, there is an exception.

Fruit ice mostly consists of frozen juice. It has few calories and is quickly digested by the body. Therefore, people suffering from pancreatitis can eat only fruit ice, but in small amounts.

All other types of ice cream are strictly forbidden. Violation of the diet leads to a worsening of the disease and other unpleasant consequences.

In case of gastritis.

Doctors do not allow patients to eat ice cream with gastritis for a number of reasons. Too cold products cause an aggravation, high fatness adversely affects the gastrointestinal tract, and with gastritis with high acidity, the use of this delicacy provokes heartburn. Also, modern manufacturers use a large number of synthetic additives, which are difficult to cope with the traumatic mucous membrane of the stomach.

It is best to exclude ice cream from the diet altogether, but if you really want to, you can eat dairy. Compared with other varieties it has the least amount of fats and artificial additives.

With constipation

Experts' opinions on the use of ice cream in cases of constipation are divided. Some cite as evidence the composition of ice cream. It is a natural dairy product, and dairy products are useful for constipation. But a large amount of sugar can lead to the growth of intestinal yeast, which will aggravate the situation. Therefore, it is not possible to treat constipation with ice cream, but just to treat yourself is quite acceptable. With this disease, it is better to eat more foods rich in fiber. This fruit, vegetables, whole grains. It is also important to drink plenty of water and the presence of physical activity.

When suffering from gout

People with gout can eat ice cream. Consumption of the treat in reasonable quantities will not lead to anything bad. When making diets for patients suffering from gout, experts highlight the item "sweets". This includes ice cream, marshmallows, marshmallows, caramel. The general recommendations are as follows: eat the dessert in small portions no more than twice a week, besides it should not contain any additives (ideally - classic milk cream).

In colitis

To the great regret of sweet eaters, in colitis doctors strictly forbid eating any products with sugar, including ice cream. No culinary tricks and making natural homemade ice cream will help to get rid of the negative effects that will be caused by sweetness. Treatment of colitis involves a strict ordering of diet and eating habits. To get rid of the disease from patients requires strict adherence to a diet that completely eliminates sugar, of which there is so much in the cold dessert.

For the liver

Despite the huge number of useful properties of ice cream, it is still harmful for the liver because of the large number of chemical elements in the composition. The body assimilates all of the useful substances, while the harmful ones remain in the liver. The following dessert ingredients hit the liver the hardest: sugar, fatty milk, dyes, emulsifiers, and stabilizers. You can make homemade ice cream from natural products and without various additives, but also such a dessert will have a huge amount of sugar in it.

For hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are a disease in the treatment of which the diet plays a major role. Making special diets for patients suffering from hemorrhoids, treating physicians are based on the general rules of nutrition for this disease. The basis of the diet are liquid, low-calorie products and 2 liters of water daily. Ice cream is also on the list of banned products, as it is difficult for the weakened gastrointestinal tract to cope with it.

In cholecystitis

People with cholecystitis, the cold treats will also have to forget about. The treatment of this ailment includes a complex of certain measures, which includes compliance with a strict diet. All cold or chilled foods are forbidden, and ice cream is among them. You can include ice cream in your diet only after postoperative rehabilitation. You should consult your doctor before doing this.

In case of sore throat

Doctors agree that it is possible and even necessary to eat ice cream with angina. However, everything should be in moderation. Do not make ice cream the main drug in the treatment of the disease. It can temporarily relieve the symptoms, but will have no effect on the overall course of the disease in man. In case of angina, you can eat 150-200 grams of dessert without a waffle. Mandatory condition - it must be soft, slightly thawed. An overly frozen treat can exacerbate the symptoms.

Health hazards and contraindications

Of course, ice cream is not a panacea. In addition to its positive qualities, it can also have adverse effects on the body.

Can you get sick from ice cream?

The question that has really been relevant at all times. Is there a connection between eating a cold dessert and diseases? Let's look into it.

The answer is no. You can't get sick from ice cream. Even if it was eaten quickly on a hot day. No child or adult can get sick from it. But viruses and infections can. But they affect the body all year round, and the emergence of disease is in no way directly related to the cold food.

However, there are exceptions. There are illnesses caused by ice cream, but even here the culprit is minimal.

1. Obesity is often caused by overconsumption of sweets. Ice cream is just one of them.
2. The dessert can be just as poisonous as any other product. If even one ingredient is contaminated with bacteria, it is poisoned.
3. People who suffer from hypothermia can be affected by eating any cold food.

Bottom line - by itself, ice cream is not a trigger for illnesses like colds or colds. But it can indirectly affect the deterioration of the body.

How to choose a real ice cream

Today, ice cream is one of the most popular products on the dessert market. Producers know this, so they offer a wide range of delicacies for all tastes. It is because of the variety of options offered that it is so important to be careful when choosing a product. So how do you choose high-quality, real and delicious ice cream?

It is necessary to be guided by GOST. Special services check compliance with all the rules in the manufacture of such products. If there is a "GOST" sign on the package, you can safely put the dessert in the basket. The main advantage is that according to GOST it is forbidden to add vegetable fats to the composition, and they are very harmful to the body.

Reading the composition on the label is important. The products in the composition of which it contains the most are placed at the beginning, and the list goes on in descending order. A good ice cream will have milk (cream), sugar, and vanillin in the first positions. The rest of the ingredients depend on the type of ice cream (plombard, eskimo, cream). Do not be afraid of emulsifiers and stabilizers, as they are simply necessary. Without them, the ice cream will not hold its shape and will melt quickly.

The appearance of the package is also important. It should be hermetically sealed and not damaged. If the composition is poorly printed or impossible to read, it is better to refuse such a product. Some producers allow themselves such tricks to deceive the buyer. And if the ice cream were of good quality and had a good composition, there would be no need to cheat.

The main information which producers must indicate on the package: date and time of production, composition, net weight, State Standard (or TU) and storage time. Pay attention to the weight of the ice cream - it must be specified in grams (g), not in milliliters (ml)!

The price must be acceptable. This does not mean that you should buy only the most expensive ice cream. But you have to be aware of what could be waiting in a cup for, say, 9 rubles. It is better to choose a dessert in the medium or higher price range.

Take the product lying at the bottom of a special fridge. Products with expired (and sometimes already expired) shelf life are put in the most visible place. In order not to fall for such a trick sellers, choose the cone lying at the bottom. And it will freeze better.

These are the basic rules for choosing high-quality ice cream. Everything else depends on the type of ice cream you need to choose.

How to make ice cream at home

To enjoy your favorite treat, you do not need to buy it in the store at all. You can make ice cream yourself. Then you will know what is included in its composition, and what exactly there is not. Below is a simple recipe by which you can make ice cream at home.

Ingredients:

• 150 ml of cow's milk;
• 150 grams of sugar or sweet powder;
• 0.5 l of cream 30-35% fat;
• vanilla sugar/vanilla (optional).

Step by step recipe for making ice cream:

1. Achieve the desired consistency of ice cream can only be achieved with chilled cream, so put them in the refrigerator beforehand.
2. Break the eggs. Separate the whites from the yolks and divide them into different bowls.
3. In a bowl with the yolks, add sugar or sweet powder and grind thoroughly.
4. Pour the milk into the same bowl and stir with a whisk.
5. The resulting mixture is heated. To do this, it is better to pour it into a saucepan and put it on the stove. The eggs should not boil, so the maximum temperature does not exceed 80 degrees. Stir the mixture constantly.
6. As it heats, the yolks will begin to thicken. This is a good thing. You should not be afraid of undercooked eggs in the product, because by heating all the bacteria in them will die. This is a method similar to pasteurization.
7. When the mixture thickens, cool it. To check the readiness, dip a spoon into the yolks. They are ready if they don't drain.
8. Cool the mixture to room temperature using a cold water bath. To do this, pour ice-cold water into a larger saucepan and place a small saucepan in it so that the water level does not reach the edges. Stir constantly so that the lower layers mix with the upper ones.
9. When the mixture has cooled, take out the cream and whip it in a separate bowl. It should have the consistency of a thick cream. Do not beat any harder (until it is buttery). The cream of desired consistency does not flow out of the bowl if you tilt it a little.
10. Next, in a large bowl, mix the two resulting mixtures. At this stage, if necessary, add vanilla or vanilla sugar (to get a vanilla flavor of ice cream).

The finished mass should be homogeneous, even in color. It should be frozen with the expectation that later it will have to be repeatedly taken out and beaten with a mixer. This is necessary to saturate the ice cream with oxygen, of which it consists of 50%. If you neglect whipping during freezing, the dessert will not have a light and airy consistency.

The first time to whip the dessert should be after it has stood in the freezer for an hour. Then repeat the procedure every hour for 3-4 hours. After that, leave it in the freezer for another 10-12 hours.

At the end of this time, the creamy filling is completely ready. You can safely take it out and treat yourself and family members.

How to eat ice cream

It would seem that what could be easier than eating your favorite treat? This process is familiar to everyone since childhood, and many people don't even think about whether they eat ice cream properly. However, in recent years, experts are increasingly stating that the improper consumption of any food product can have a detrimental effect on the body. So how can you eat ice cream without harming your health?

How much you can eat per day

A normal adult, not prone to obesity, can eat up to 200 grams of ice cream per day without additives. In the presence of toppings, sprinkles or other flavors better reduce the portion to 150 grams. This volume of dessert will not harm the figure, especially in the presence of regular physical activity.

Children can eat up to 150 grams per day, provided that the rest of the daily diet did not contain so much sugar. If eating ice cream with other sweets (for example, on a holiday), the portion should be reduced to 100 g.

People on a strict diet can eat 70-100 grams of low-calorie ice cream. But even such small portions should be eaten no more than 1-2 times a week.

Is it allowed to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

The consumption of ice cream at night won't lead to anything bad. The main thing is to know the measure. A small portion will not harm the figure, unless, of course, it is a regular ritual before going to bed. So, people whose bodies can safely handle ice cream can eat it at any time of the day.

On an empty stomach, chilled treats can also be eaten. It has enough calories and useful substances to quickly restore strength and saturate the body. One disadvantage is cold ice cream. It will also take energy to maintain the body temperature after cooling from the inside. However, these figures are small and will not play a big role.

Is it possible to eat ice cream after a tooth extraction?

Those who have had to endure a tooth extraction procedure know how unpleasant it is when the anesthesia stops working. Swelling as a result of such surgery is a normal occurrence that cannot be avoided. That's why many doctors advise their patients to eat ice cream after surgery. And this recommendation applies not only to children. You can really eat ice cream after a tooth extraction. Thanks to the temperature, it will relieve the pain of the swelling and greatly ease the postoperative period.

However, ice cream is only useful on the day of surgery. After a day, it is better to make warm compresses.

Why Ice Cream Doesn't Freeze in the Freezer

The freezer is designed to keep food at low temperatures for long periods of time. Many people know how difficult it can be to defrost meat after the freezer.

Buying ice cream in briquettes, you can't eat it whole at a time, so people put it in the freezer. Imagine their surprise when they take the ice cream out and find it not frozen. Some briquettes are literally soft. So why does this happen?

First of all we should understand that not all ice cream stays soft at low temperatures. Only good quality ice cream made strictly according to GOST, not less than 20% of milk will harden.

If the composition of the ice cream includes vegetable fats (for example, palm or coconut oil), it will not solidify. It is the technical oils that are not absorbed by the body and do not allow the product to freeze even at the lowest temperatures. Therefore, if you find soft-serve ice cream in the freezer, it is better to refuse to eat it.

Vegetable fats are cheaper than animal fats, so products with them are cheaper. However, they have an unpleasant taste. In order to hide it, the fat is deodorized. Is it worth putting your body at such risk?

Can animals be given ice cream?

Eating an ice cream cone near your pet, it is difficult to resist its charm and not treat it to a piece of a treat. But is it safe? Let's find out.

All veterinarians say that giving ice cream to pets is strictly forbidden. It does not do any good. As a rule, only the owner gets satisfaction from watching his pet eat the treat with pleasure. Animals cannot know the dangers of such snacks, so their owners should watch out for them.

Pets are contraindicated to all kinds of sweets, including ice cream. Most pets are lactose intolerant. Of course, after a piece of ice cream the pet won't die (unless it has serious gastrointestinal diseases), but you shouldn't abuse it either.

If the owner's goal is to help the pet cool down on a hot day, alas, that makes no sense either. Every animal has its own natural way of thermoregulation. The only way to help him is to make sure he has fresh, cool water. Everything else his body will do on its own.

The composition of ice cream has an adverse effect on the health of animals. Large amounts of sugar and dairy fats contribute to obesity, diabetes, and liver disease.

If we're talking only about ice cream, a small portion won't do much harm to your pet. But if the treat has additives (nuts, raisins, chocolate), even a small piece can be toxic and lead to food poisoning.

Owners should carefully monitor the diet of their pets. If you really want to pamper your pet with something tasty, there are special treats available. Ice cream for pets can even be made on their own - such a treat is sure not to harm the pet.

What's the best ice cream?

There is no match for taste and color, so says a well-known saying. It is not strictly possible to judge which ice cream is the most delicious. However, there is a real statistic. It is based on social surveys of ordinary people, and here are the results.

The most delicious ice cream:

• Vanilla - 23%.
• Plombir - 17%.
• Chocolate - 15%.
• Eskimo - 15%.
• Milk ice cream 13%.
• Aromatic - 9%.
• Berry - 7%.
• Crème Brûlée - 1%.

Interesting facts about ice cream

1. Ice cream was sold in waffle cones by accident. In 1904, at a U.S. fair, an ice cream vendor ran out of paper cups, and he asked an acquaintance who sold waffles for help. They began to pack ice cream in waffle cups, not even knowing that in the future the tradition would spread around the world.
2. One cow's milk can make 34 thousand liters of ice cream in its lifetime.
3. The United States is the leader in the amount of ice cream produced. The average resident of this country eats about 22.5 liters of cold dessert per year.
4. In all, there are more than 700 varieties of ice cream worldwide.
5. The popsicle stick was invented in 1905 by an 11-year-old boy.
6. The most expensive portion of ice cream costs about $1,000. Along with the treat comes a spoonful of diamonds, which you can then take away for yourself.
7. In the early days of television's popularity, cooking shows used regular pureed ice cream instead of real ice cream, as the dessert quickly melted under the light of the lamps.
8. The largest ice cream cake was made by a Canadian company. It weighed over 10 tons and made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. It took about 9,000 kg of ice cream and 100 kg of biscuit to make.
9. The ice cream melts so slowly because of the large amount of sugar in its composition.
10. The very first recipe for ice cream was found in China and dates back to 1665. It consisted of water from orange and flowers.
11. Ice cream tasters use only gold spoons. Ordinary cutlery is thought to leave an aftertaste.
12. One company changed the shape of its ice cream cups after a letter from urchin advocates. They asked that the hole in the lid be smaller because the hedgehogs would stick their heads in and couldn't get out. The company met the activists halfway and changed the diameter of the lid.
13. There is an ice cream graveyard. There are plastic tombstones with the name and recipe of the ice cream that didn't please the customers.
14. There is ice cream with real shrimp.
15. World Ice Cream Day is June 10.

Photo of ice cream