Eating ice cream before bed is not a good idea because it has a high sugar content that can interfere with sleep and a high dairy content that can irritate your stomach. Eating ice cream in the morning is less harmful. However, it is recommended you start your day with a healthier, more nutrient-dense meal.
Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN, agrees that post-meal is best. ``Having dessert after a balanced meal allows you to get the benefit of the nutrients in the meal to stabilize your blood sugar from the sweets. Psychologically, it's also better to eat it after a meal,'' she says.
Eating ice cream late at night can impair sleep because of its high sugar content, or it may lead to stomach aches because of the dairy. You should avoid eating food a few hours before bed to prevent issues with sleep.
Eating ice cream for breakfast can be considered unhealthy for several reasons: High Sugar Content: Ice cream typically contains a lot of sugar, which can lead to a spike in blood sugar levels. This can result in a quick energy boost followed by a crash, leaving you feeling tired and hungry shortly after.
Jokes aside, registered dietitian Heather Steele says eating something like ice cream on an empty stomach usually isn't the best idea.
Eating ice cream before bed is not a good idea because it has a high sugar content that can interfere with sleep and a high dairy content that can irritate your stomach. Eating ice cream in the morning is less harmful. However, it is recommended you start your day with a healthier, more nutrient-dense meal.
Drinking water will not trigger the thirst response. It is obvious that your brain will process the thirst response later after eating ice cream, not instantly. It means when you drink a little water after eating ice cream, you are already a step ahead of diluting the sugar and salt content.
Ice cream contains quite a large amount of sugar and saturated fats. If you consume too much of it, it can cause weight gain, visceral fat, fat around the waist circumference (aka love handles!).
As Topol suggests, stop eating at least a couple of hours before bed to prevent all that sugar and dairy from ruining your sleep.
The healthiest ice cream for you depends on your dietary needs, but opting for low-calorie, low-sugar and high-protein brands is a smart choice. Options such as Alec's or Talenti are good for anyone seeking ice cream with minimal and responsibly sourced ingredients.
A study from Kyorin University in Tokyo, found that eating ice cream in the morning may improve alertness and mental performance. Professor Yoshihiko Koga and his team analyzed the results of multiple clinical trials that measured brain activity after eating various foods in the morning.
After devouring the entire cheese plate or pint of ice cream, the best thing that you can do to clear out your system is eat meals rich in anti-inflammatory foods like those on this list. Berries in particular will calm inflammation in the body quickly, between their high antioxidant levels and fiber.
Eating sugar on an empty stomach is an absolute no
“Consuming sugary foods or beverages in isolation, especially on an empty stomach, can lead to rapid spikes and subsequent crashes in blood sugar levels, resulting in feelings of fatigue and energy depletion," reveals Jashan Vij, Health & Weight-Loss Coach.
Soft cheeses like feta and ricotta, as well as other dairy products like milk, ice cream and chocolate, take somewhere between 90 – 120 minutes to make their way through your stomach. Of the meats, chicken passes through the stomach most quickly – in 90 – 120 minutes.
“Unless you're downing a crate of avocados before hitting the hay, you shouldn't have to worry about avocados wrecking your sleep. In fact, avocados provide multiple benefits,” Taub-Dix says.
Oranges are famous for their vitamin C content, but they also supply natural sugars that can give you a soothing energy lift in the early evening. Enjoy a small glass of orange juice or a fresh orange as part of your evening snack. If you like more exotic fruits, try papaya as your evening treat.
Whether you're going for non-dairy ice cream or the real thing, all three dietitians emphasize that if you're going to eat ice cream every day, the most important thing to be mindful of is portion size. “A single serving, [which is often a] half-cup, per day is the maximum I recommend for most,” Clark said.
Ice cream is often high in calcium (to strengthen bones) and other essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. When paired with berries and dark chocolate seniors can also reap additional health benefits.
Experts suggest eating any foods that contain added sugar and saturated fat, like ice cream, in a moderate and mindful way. In excess, these foods might displace nutritious choices in your diet and increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes over time.
People with lactose intolerance are unable to fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, they have diarrhea, gas and bloating after eating or drinking dairy products. The condition, which is also called lactose malabsorption, is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable.
Remember not to drink too soon before or after a meal as the water will dilute the digestive juices. Drink water an hour after the meal to allow the body to absorb the nutrients.
It May Affect Digestion
6 It's believed that the mismatch between body and water temperature leads to energy expenditure, making it harder to digest food.