Food
Ice Cream May Improve Brain Performance Says New Study
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Heidi Kennedy
09.20.19

As a child, we all dreamt of eating ice cream for breakfast. And the fun thing about being an adult is that you can if you want to! The flavor combinations are endless and it is often the perfect treat. No wonder there are thousands of ice cream shops and grocery stores have whole isles dedicated to the endless world of the delicious snack. While it is scrumptious, many of us feel the pang of guilt for filling out bodies with a, let’s just say, less-than-healthy treat. But what if someone told you that ice cream was actually good for you?

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A Japanese study found that eating ice cream boosts brainpower.

The research was done at the University in Tokyo by professor Yoshihiko Koga. Participants in the study were given a computer test early in the morning and the study compared those who ate ice cream for breakfast and those who did not.

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The people who ate ice cream were found to have a higher level of brain activity and alertness than those who did not eat the ice cream. The non-ice-cream-subjects were also instructed to drink a glass of cold water, but there was no significance found between just the cold temperature.

Ice cream contains helpful nutrients.

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While ice cream is by no means considered an important part of the food pyramid, there are several vitamins and minerals found in ice cream that our bodies need to sustain itself. Nutrients such as B vitamins, protein, and calcium. Calcium is a known essential nutrient that our bodies need for proper bone health.

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B vitamins provide energy to the body and protein helps the body repair and rebuild cells. And depending on the flavor, such as dark chocolate, ice cream can be loaded with antioxidants that are good for your heart and can help lower cholesterol levels.

There are other health benefits too.

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There are several other benefits of eating ice cream. Dr. Jorge Chavarro, MD, ScD, a Harvard researcher, found that women who had eaten more high-fat dairy foods, such as ice cream, had an increased chance of getting pregnant.

“Women who ate two or more weekly servings of low-fat dairy foods had an 85% higher risk of ovulation problems than women who ate one or fewer servings each week,” says Chavarro.

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Another study was done at the Institute of Psychiatry in London who found that eating ice cream actually improves your mood. After eating a spoonful of ice cream, the researchers found that the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex was engaged. This is the same part of the brain that lights up when you win money or hear your favorite song.

While every person has unique nutritional needs, it can be argued that ice cream does have its benefits. Maybe having that bowl of your favorite ice cream tonight is not such a bad idea after all!

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So, if you need an excuse to go get a bowl of ice cream, go for it!

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