Love Ice Cream? Maybe It's Time To Switch To The Low-Sugar Brands!

Ice cream is a well-loved dessert (and sometimes, snack) by many people. However, it is also a sugary food associated with many health problems, including tooth decay and weight gain. 

The sugar in this dessert provides bacteria with a surface on which they can grow and produce acid, which leads to tooth decay. Likewise, it can lead to weight gain because, frankly speaking, all sugary foods are associated with being overweight and obese. 

Sugary foods, like ice cream, can also promote hunger, increasing your tendency to overeat. This means that when you eat a serving or two, you are more likely to want to eat more food later on, further increasing your risk of gaining excess weight. 

Keeping all these in mind, will it be better to switch to low-sugar or sugar-free ice cream?

Low-Sugar vs Sugar-Free Ice Cream

Low-sugar ice cream is a type of dessert that, as the name suggests, is low in sugar. Since it contains less sugar than the regular kind does, it is said to be a healthier alternative to the traditional kind. People with diabetes can also take advantage of low-sugar ice cream because they are better for their blood glucose control. 

Sugar-free ice cream, on the other hand, is often made with artificial sweeteners like Stevia, or sugar alcohols, like maltitol. Both of these are associated with some side effects, primarily gas and bloating. 

Is Low-Sugar or Sugar-Free Ice Cream Right For You?

Low-sugar or sugar-free ice cream can be a good alternative to regular ice cream. It usually has a similar taste as regular ice cream, but with less sugar and fat content.

The following are some of the benefits of low sugar ice cream:

• Low in calories: The average serving size of no sugar added ice cream is 99 calories while the average serving size of regular ice cream is 273 calories.
• Low in fat: Low sugar ice cream contains less than 5g of fat per serving while regular ice cream contains more than 10g of fat per serving.
• No added sugars: Low-sugar ice cream does not contain any added sugars while regular ice cream contains 10g of sugars per serving.
• Less lactose: Some people may be lactose intolerant, which means they cannot digest. 

Low Sugar Ice Cream Recipe

Ice cream is easy to make, delicious, and can be served with a variety of toppings such as chocolate syrup, whipped cream, or fruit. But it’s not always the healthiest choice because store-bought ice cream usually contains lots of sugar and fat.

The good news is you can whip up a healthier ice cream than the store-bought version. No added sugars, low in fat, but still just as delicious!

One great recipe is to blend frozen bananas with low-fat almond milk until you have a smoothie consistency. Add peanut butter and sprinkle some cinnamon before blending again. Freeze the mixture for a couple of hours before serving. You may also browse online for more healthy dessert recipes. 

Suggested Healthy Brands

Are you looking for brands of low-sugar or sugar-free ice cream? You might want to check the following:

• Carmen’s Best has no sugar added variety in dark chocolate, Brazilian coffee, and Madagascar vanilla flavors.  
• After’s also has vegan sugar-free flavors. They are also low in fat considering they are dairy-free. 
• FIC also has several flavors with no sugar added, like Belgian chocolate and café latte. 

Should You Make the Switch?

Switching to low-sugar or sugar-free ice brands is a good choice for people who eat this dessert from time to time. But, please remember that moderation is the key. Instead of focusing on ice cream, remember that you have many healthy dessert options, like fruits, nuts, and yogurt. Talk to your doctor or dietitian so they can discuss with you healthy desserts besides ice cream. 

Learn more about Healthy Eating here.