Sweet Dreams
The surprising health benefits of ice cream. Plus, my 85 year old Dad's secret to staying young.
It’s Father’s Day today. I’m not with my dear Dad because he is doing what he loves the most in this world — playing golf. He’s in Ireland with his buddies on an 11 day trip playing 18 holes per day. Pretty amazing considering he turns 86 in less than a month.
For anyone who’s met my father, you would agree that he is charming, vibrant and full of life. He and my stepmother routinely get delayed by TSA because the agent simply cannot believe this well dressed, spritely pair are the ages listed in their passports.
After a double take, the line of questioning usually begins with, “what’s your secret to staying young?”
Dad usually responds, “my wife and her cooking or playing golf every day!” But, when it comes to longevity, we know that it isn’t just about the one thing you are doing right. It’s about all of the things.
Dad has always been active. Tennis, tai chi and skiing in his younger years. Now it’s golfing as much as he can. Weight training. Ballroom dancing. Walking every single day. At weddings, he’s the life of the party. In fact, they are so social that they have friends in multiple cities and host dinner parties on the regular.
As for diet, Dad loves to eat. Mostly lean protein and plant-based. Rarely drinks. And has optimized with supplements for as long as I can remember.
So what’s his one vice and other obsession in life besides golf? Ice cream.
The one year I shipped him 12 cartons of Jeni’s Ice Cream for his birthday was the year I was declared his favorite child. He has been known to finish his scoop and go after yours if you take too long eating your dessert.
So when The Atlantic did a deep dive on old scientific findings that mentioned the curious health benefits that were attributed to ice cream, I had to laugh. Had Dad known about this secret health food all along?
According to the observational study from Harvard in 2005, men who consumed two or more servings of ice cream every week had a 22% lower chance of diabetes. Say what?
Another Harvard study in 2018 by Andres Ardisson Korat concluded that “eating half a cup of ice cream a day was associated with a lower risk of heart problems1.” Scientists at the nation’s most influential department of nutrition looked to debunk the (seemingly unpopular) findings but have yet to uncover hidden bias or computational errors. The positive conclusion of the study seems to defy all logic and has the health community at odds.
“There’s this perception that ice cream is unhealthy, but it’s got fat, it’s got protein, it’s got vitamins. It’s better for you than bread.”
— Dariush Mozaffarian (Dean of Policy at Tufts’s nutrition school & co-author of the Harvard paper)
As kids, we grew up having a little something sweet after dinner. Even back then, my family knew that consuming sugar after a meal would be better for you — because you blunt your glucose spike by having fiber, fat and protein in your stomach first. Dessert wasn’t vilified as something that could make you fat, it was treat to be enjoyed, albeit one that was portion-controlled.
That said, ice cream is probably not a “health food.” But, if the ingredients are minimal and high quality, it’s not that bad for you either. Maybe the real health benefit is that this food sparks joy and conjures up nostalgic memories of childhood. Is it even summer if you don’t have an ice cream cone?
As for my Dad, who does so many things right when it comes to his health, ice cream might just be part of his secret to staying young.
Ice cream brands we love:
Lavender & Truffles - the most decadent new brand by my friend Alicia Liu. Plant-based and dairy-free. Favorite flavors are Miso Butterscotch & Mango Chili.
Van Leeuwan - classic flavors with high quality ingredients. Bestsellers include Mint Chip and Sicilian Pistachio.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams - Dad’s favorite and they ship nationally. Love the Brambleberry Crisp and Brown Butter Almond Brittle.
Holiscoops - An amazing plant-based, adaptogen-filled, keto alternative by my friend Jenna Grossbart. No dairy, gluten or added sugar. Try the Double Chocolate Chipper or Conscious Coffee flavors.
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All writing is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
I scream…!
Could it also because of his gene?