It has happened to most of us. Whether we're eating mindlessly on a movie night or going through a bad breakup, there's been a day we just opened a pint of ice cream and finished it without knowing.
Once we start, it's just hard to stop digging into the frozen delight. As comforting and delicious it may be though, a pint of ice cream may be, we can be quite concerned when it comes to fats and calories that come with it.
We'll just cut to the chase, the: is eating a pint of ice cream bad for your health? The simple answer is no, as long as you don't make it a habit.
But that doesn't mean you should spend every night with a pint of ice cream, digging 'til you finish the entire thing. All things should come in moderation, anyway.
A full pint of ice cream is full of fat, sugar, and calories that can replace half of a day's worth of intake, and eating too much of it can have not-so-good effects.
Here's what happens to your body once you eat an entire pint of ice cream:
You Blood Sugar Stays Somewhat Normal
If you think a pint of ice cream is enough to make your blood sugar spike, it's not as high as you think. "Anytime we eat food, our blood sugar is going to go up," says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RD, told Eat This, Not That.
Dobbins added that a person's blood sugar should stay normal even with a pint of ice cream, unless they're diabetic or have reactive hypoglygemia.
You Blood Pressure Won't be Affected
Dairy products have calcium, potassium and magnesium-three important minerals in keeping someone's blood pressure in check.
To add to that, calcium is also good in having strong teeth and bones.
It's a Source of Energy
According to The Daily Meal, ice cream is so high on carbohydrates. It has roughly 15 grams of carbs in half a cup, or one serving.
Just imagine what an entire pint will do with your energy.
Health experts don't recommend ice cream as the main source of energy, though. They suggest people to get their daily carbohydrate intake from healthier sources.
It Makes You Happier
Ice cream makes people happier. There's no surprise in that.
But it's not just because you're digging into your favorite mint chocolate chip or rocky road, it's actually due to the higher carbohydrate intake you get from ice cream.
Carbs tend to give your body more serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps in lifting your mood, said a University Health News report. Serotonin is also known as the "feel-good hormone".
Ice cream is also a good trigger stimulator for the pleasure center in your brain. Indulging in some ice cream from time to time is fine, but you have to make sure it isn't the only thing in your diet.
It Helps with Fertility
A study published in the journal Human Reproduction suggested that eating full-fat milk, like those in most ice creams can improve a woman's chance of conceiving.
It's a great excuse for those trying to start a family to just grab a pint and enjoy the frozen treat.
Compared to those who consume skim milk or fat-free products like yoghurt, ice cream eaters tend to have higher chances of pregnancy, reducing their infertility risk by 38%.
Now, would you still feel guilty when you eat ice cream? Go ahead and endulge. Just take note that too much of anything good can also be bad.
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