Surprising health benefits of ice cream ahead of the scorching 40C heatwave

Today marks the starts of National Ice Cream Month, but it seems we dont need much persuading to have a lick, as each of us eat an average of nine litres of the yummy stuff every year.

But is it good or bad for your body? Here we look at the pros and cons of the cold stuff for your health, whilst serving up some suggestions on which types to choose

Breakfast boon: Sales of ice cream have been booming in the recent heatwave and dont dismiss the idea if youve even considered having the chilly treat for breakfast.

Boffins in Japan found that people who have a three scoops of ice cream first thing in the morning typically have faster reaction times and are better at processing information than those who havent enjoyed the freezy food.

In the 2016 study from Kyorin University, researchers found that simply giving subjects cold water didnt produce the same effect. Its thought ice creams treat value may give us some sort of neurological boost.

It certainly seems to make us happier, with a separate study from the Institute of Psychiatry in London finding that it triggered the same pleasure centres in the brain as winning money or listening to your favourite songs.

Ticker tape: Some studies have linked eating ice cream to benefits for the heart. For instance, researchers at Harvard University found that in patients with diabetes, eating ice cream twice a week was associated with a 12 per cent reduction in the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.

Another study, from Sweden, linked having occasional sweet treats like ice cream with a lower chance of suffering a stroke or heart attack.

But another piece of research in the US found that ultra processed foods like ice cream seemed to up the risk.

The British Heart Foundation warns of indulging too much: We do know that eating too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which in turn can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Dairy delight: The dairy content of ice cream means that it comes with a good dose of calcium, which is good for keeping your bones and teeth healthy.

A couple of small scoops will provide around 12 per cent of your daily needs. It also contains other important vitamins and minerals for your body, including iodine and phosphorous, which has been linked to boosting libido.

Ice cream may even help boost fertility in women. A study reported in the journal Human Reproduction found that those who ate at least one fatty dairy food a day, like ice cream, were 27 percent less likely to have ovulation problems.

Cone crazy: Ice cream may be addictive as drugs, according to some scientists! In a 2012 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ice cream was found to increase cravings, but subjects got less satisfaction from it each time, in the same way the brain responds to drugs like cocaine.

Dr Kyle Burger, from the Oregon Research Institute, said: Repeated, overconsumption of high-fat or high-sugar foods may alter how the brain responds to those foods in a way that perpetuates further intake.

Dont wolf down the stuff either a US study found that brain freeze can be real. Fast ice cream eaters get more headaches, according to the research, because it causes blood vessels to quickly dilate, triggering a rush of blood to the bonce.

Ice ideas: Experts at Loughborough University studied the calorie count of some of the biggest brands of ice cream and found that a single stick of ice cream can take nearly 30 minutes to run off.

Professor Amanda Daley said: We may think these are just small treats, but they can add a significant amount to your daily calorie count.

But which ones are best for your waistline? When it comes to ice cream sticks, a Magnum can pack 230 calories, whereas a Solero has just 98 calories. There can be a big range in tubs too with 100g of Walls vanilla soft scoop ice cream coming in at 180 calories, compared to 250 calories for Haagen Dazs vanilla. There are now lots of lower calorie brands too, such as Halo Top.

Ice lollies can also be good lower calorie options. Good choices include the Fruit Pastilles brand made with real fruit juice and clocking in at just 53 calories.

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