Last year, there was some buzz around research suggesting that ice cream could possibly be “healthy.” People were understandably thrilled about this discovery. A 2018 dissertation on dairy and cardiovascular disease unexpectedly found that ice cream consumption among people with diabetes was inversely associated with risk of the disease. The surprising findings about ice cream led to deep dives into the topic by The Atlantic and PBS. And claims about ice cream’s health benefits continue circulate the internet.

But before you try to justify eating ice cream every day in the name of being healthy, there are some parts of the research that need a closer look. PBS pointed out that these are observational studies, which means they can show associations, but not prove that ice cream directly impacts the likelihood of getting a disease.

Registered dietician Angel Luk told us that she would hesitate to focus on the “ice cream” aspect of the paper. This is due to limitations in the research, such as the fact that most of the participants were of European descent. The 2018 dissertation also cited earlier studies that suggested ice cream consumption decreased the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

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So, Is Ice Cream Actually Healthy?

This is up for debate and dependent on a lot of factors. Always keep in mind that the word “healthy” means different things to different people.

First, there’s a difference between ice cream and frozen desserts. Luk says that ice cream’s health benefits associated are from its milk and cream. Frozen desserts aren’t made with milk and cream, but with vegetables oils.

“Real ice cream is a source of vitamin A, D, and B12, which helps with vision, immune function, nervous system and cell health,” she said.

In addition to calcium, which is important for healthy bones and teeth, dietician nutritionist Lauren Manaker said that eating ice cream can bring joy. “We can’t underestimate the ‘joy factor’ that certain foods can bring us.” Cheers to that!

Is Ice Cream Unhealthy?

“While ice cream can be a delightful treat, there are potential negative health impacts to consider,” said Manaker.

First, there’s dairy, which not everyone can eats or tolerate. Then there’s the added sugar, which is different from naturally occurring total sugar, such as that found in milk. Added sugar, according to the FDA, is the sugar added during the processing of foods. For those over two years old, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that less than 10% of daily calories come from added sugars.

Being high in sugar is saturated fats, Manaker said that when eaten in excess, ice cream could contribute to weight gain, elevated blood sugar levels, or even an increased risk of heart disease.

“People who are managing conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol should consume ice cream according to the guidance of their healthcare provider,” she added.

How Much Ice Cream Is Okay To Eat?

Manaker said that this depends on your overall eating habits and portion sizes. “If your meals are generally low in added sugars and you don’t indulge too often, treating yourself to ice cream every day can be perfectly fine for generally healthy people.”

Of course, she adds, you want to make sure you’re also getting other nutritious foods like fruits, veggies, and proteins.

Headshot of Allison Arnold

As the Associate Editor at Delish, Allie is a writer, reporter, and producer of features at the intersection of food and culture. Before Delish, Allie worked for publications including Apartment Therapy and Insider. She even spent time working in restaurants and breweries. Allie has dumpster-dived in NYC to expose food waste, reported on the invasive lionfish you can eat, and wrote about the growing trend of weed weddings. Her health and nutrition stories on hydration culture, bananas, and coffee have generated nearly 2M combined views. She loves traveling, running, and eating her way through new places and even has a thorough Google Maps ranking system for her favorite restaurants and bars! When not writing about food, she’s planning her next trip, lifting weights, or training for a race.  

Expertise: food & culture (Sustainability, Health, Travel) 

Education: M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University, B.S. in Information Science (User Experience Design) from the University of Michigan 


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