Chocolate Ice Cream Recipes - Creamy, Rich, and Delicious

Chocolate Ice-cream was attributed to the death of 3 people in Kansas in 2015 after they consumed products from a Kansas-based company (CDC, 2015). One of the contributing factors to their deaths was Listeriosis, a key ingredient in ice cream (Flodin, 2015). The existence of the component in the ice-cream, as well as the fatalities that arose from the chocolate ice cream, was confirmed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Listeriosis is a severe infection that results from consuming bacterium Listeria monocytogens . It is especially dangerous to those who are advanced in age as well as those who have weak immune systems. A vast majority of Americans share a love for chocolate ice cream. However, one underlying fact that surprisingly evades lovers of chocolate ice-cream is that some of its core ingredients can be fatal, especially if consumed in vast proportions. This paper takes an in-depth look at some of the health risks of chocolate ice-cream, mainly arising from the ingredients that make up Americans’ favorite dessert.  

Indeed, people must know the adverse heat effects of ice-cream that they love so much. The creamy escape loved by many has a substantial downside that can be harmful to one’s health in the long term, especially if consumed in unlimited amounts. The high sugar and fat contents can potentially cause deadly gastrointestinal anomalies; thus, the reason it should be consumed in moderation. A detailed analysis of the harmful ingredients is provided in the discourse below.  

Calories 

Unknown to many, consuming only half a cup (105 grams) of creamy chocolate ice cream is equal to consuming 300 calories (MCMURRAY, 2019). That means that eating a whole pint of ice cream would be equivalent to consuming 1200 calories. Surprisingly, that amount is more than the daily intake since a person needs sonly between 2000 to 2500 calories per day (Mcmurray, 2019).  

Fat 

Most chocolate ice creams have saturated fats, which consequently raises the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body. The American Heart Association has taken a proactive step in sensitizing the people about their recommended consumption of fats. The organization suggests that people take active steps in cutting back their levels of fat by approximately.suhc will be possible by ensuring that the total number of calories consumed by a person does not exceed 5 to 6 percent of the total number of calories cumulated. For instance, someone who is on a 2000 per day calorie diet should not consume more than 16 g of saturated fat.  

Sugar 

Sugar has been attributed to adverse health effects and lifestyle diseases than many people in the contemporary world are now grappling with. The sweet taste in sugar has affected many people and led them down a path of regret. Sugar leads to less absorption of vitamins and minerals. Moreover, it can also leach calcium from the bones and leave a person vulnerable to infections. 

Furthermore, several lifestyle diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes are all excavated by sugar consumption. Therefore, The American Heart Association recommends a daily limit of 36g of added sugar for men and 24g of added sugar for women (E.A.Prindiville, 2020). Unknown to most people, one serving of chocolate ice cream contains about 23 of sugar. It has the potential to wreck an individual’s health and expose him/her to infections that would otherwise be prevented. 

Trehalose and Listeria 

In the age of flavorings, artificial sugars have increased in popularity in their extensive use in the food and beverage industry. Trehalose acts as both a texturizing agent and as a sweetener. Apart from that, it also depresses the freezing point of food, making it a vital ingredient in chocolate ice-cream. Unfortunately, trehalose has been linked to diseases arising from Clostridium, which is a bacterium that exists in human guts. Even more surprisingly, some ice-creams contain up to 11% in concentrations of trehalose. Listeria is also another type of bacterium that results in sin serious illness. Its effect is common in those with weakened immune systems and those with underlying health conditions. Listeria is a significant component in chocolate ice-creams, further increasing potential harm to lovers of ice cream.  

Another misleading marketing gimmick that has been applied by many brands is labeling their ice-creams as healthy ice creams. To make matters worse, they advertise them as low in calories even though they are laden with highly processed and artificial sugars (Cahn, 2020). Below are some of the negative health consequences of consuming the so-called ‘healthy’ ice-creams. 

Higher Risk for Obesity from Alternative Sweeteners 

Most brands that advertise their chocolate ice-creams as sugar-free have artificial sweeteners. The ingredient that forms a considerable part of the products such as acesulfame potassium, aspartame, and sucralose may alter the functioning of the brain and make people eat more. Besides, they also cause diarrhea, nausea, and stomachs. The ingredients, as mentioned above, are risky for consumers and significantly change the workings of the gut, eventually causing diarrheas, loose bowels, and stomach pain. Alternative sweeteners such as stevia are also not risk-free due to their high sugar content. A 2017 study carried out in 264 college-going students found an association between weight gain and erythritol (Tiernan, 2017). 

Bloating, Constipation and Diarrhea 

Substitutes used in place of sugar, such as erythritol can cause nausea when consumed in doses of 50 grams per day (Tiernan, 2017). These enzymes are usually not broken down by the body. Thus they are excreted as urine. A wide array of frozen desserts market themselves as healthy alternatives to traditional ice cream due to tot their high protein content. However, the downside of indulging in an entire pint is a wildly upset stomach since a person would be consuming 20 grams of fiber, which is significantly more than the required daily intake (Tiernan, 2017). Frozen desserts contain prebiotic fibers that assist indigestion. Vegetables like onions, leeks, garlic are naturally high in prebiotic grains. The problem is that there is no appropriate reason as to why prebiotic fibers re-added to the treats. The addicts are not necessarily healthy. It is just a platform that these brands use to market their products that eventually end up harming the consumers. 

Cost on the Wallet 

Despite the product having so many ingredients, a person may not even get the worth of his/her money. The reason being that healthy ice creams cost more than Target-branded ice-creams by about 4 to five times more. Sadly, they are laden with processed ingredients and artificial sugars.  

Conclusion 

Traditional ice cream is healthy when consumed infrequently and in moderate proportions. Healthy is indeed about moderation and learning to appreciate the underlying facts. Overconsumption of chocolate ice cream can lead to the health defects mentioned above. They include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, among others. Therefore, limiting the consumption of such foods is critical to a healthy living and overall wellness of both body and mind. 

References 

Cahn, L. (2020). Could Ice Cream Be the Cause of Your Food Poisoning?  TasetofHome . 

CDC. (2015, June 10).  CDC . Retrieved February 18, 2020, from cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/ice-cream-03-15/index.html 

E.A.Prindiville. (2020). Effect of Milk Fat on the Sensory Properties of Chocolate Ice Cream.  Elsevier B.V . 

Flodin, K. J. (2015, March 14).  NBC NEWS . Retrieved February 18, 2020, from nbcnews.com: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/blue-bell-ice-cream-linked-deadly-illness-n323396 

Mcmurray, S. (2019). Is Ice Cream Bad for You?  University Health News . 

Tiernan, M. C. (20117, August 28).  Healthline . Retrieved February 18, 2020, from healthline.com: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-halo-top-ice-cream-healthy