When the temperature outside increases, most of us look for cool foods to dispel the heat inside, and ice cream is what many people turn to. However, according to nutritionists, this delicious snack is one of the factors that causes your body temperature to increase.
Ms. Riya Desai, senior nutritionist, Wockhardt Hospital (India) explains that when you consume ice cream, especially ice cream with high milk fat content , the process of thermogenesis will appear in the body . .
"This process refers to the biological heat in the digestion and metabolism of food. Milk fat contained in ice cream has a higher content than other nutrients such as carbohydrates or proteins. Therefore, when fats are metabolized, they release more heat and provide more energy to the body,” Desai said.
Ms. Riya Desai cited that even a 2019 study by famous food researcher - Dr. Bohdan Luhovyy at Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada also explained the scientific side of this issue.
According to Dr. Luhovyy, the main ingredients in most ice cream products are milk fat and sugar. When fat is broken down in the body, it generates a significant amount of heat. This process is called dietary thermogenesis," Dr. Luhovyy informed.
And Dr. Manjusha Agarwal, senior consultant, internal medicine, Gleneagles Parel Hospital, Mumbai (India) explained that when a person eats something cold like ice cream, receptors in the mouth and neck will send signals to the patient. brain to explain this feeling. In response, the body tends to work harder to address this cooling effect by increasing internal temperature through mechanisms such as increased metabolic activity.
This process also promotes body temperature regulation mechanisms, which can produce sweat, Dr. Agarwal said.
Ms. Riya Desai noted that it is important that the amount of heat generated from consuming ice cream is relatively small and short-lived. So next time you indulge in your favorite ice cream, know that it may temporarily increase your body temperature.
“To help your body cool down, you should drink water or fruit juice instead of eating ice cream. Because the above types of water do not heat the body and are good for overall health," said Ms. Riya Desai.
