How Ice Cream Can Improve Your Mood? | La gelati (2024)

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How Ice Cream Can Improve Your Mood? | La gelati? ›

The creamy texture and cold temperature of it can help to calm your nerves and provide you with a sense of relaxation. The sugar in ice cream provides you with a temporary burst of energy, which further helps to counteract the lethargy and fatigue that often come with anxiety.

The science doesn't stop there. Ice cream contains protein and fat, both of which our bodies need to help level our moods. On top of that, the amino acids you take in when eating ice cream, such as tryptophan, are known to increase serotonin production. That leaves us feeling calm, satisfied, and well, happy!

Because it's made without cream and usually without milk, it's much lower in fat than traditional ice cream. It is usually 4-8% fat, while ice cream is more than 15% fat. A tablespoon of gelato (½ cup) has 2 to 3 grams of fat, making it one of the healthiest dessert options.

Many people wonder whether desserts such as gelato can help with depression, relieve stress, and boost your mood. The answer is yes, having a bowl of frozen dessert can calm you and make you feel better when you're feeling stressed, irritated or frustrated. It is even known as comfort food.

When we consume something that we enjoy, it triggers our brain to release endorphins, a natural chemical that can induce feelings of pleasure and happiness. The cold temperature of ice cream can enhance this effect by providing an invigorating and refreshing experience, especially on a hot day.

Studies have found that eating ice cream can stimulate the pleasure center in our brain that releases dopamine and endorphins. These neurotransmitters can act as stress relievers, flooding our body with a feeling of pleasure, well-being, and accomplishment.

The creamy texture and cold temperature of it can help to calm your nerves and provide you with a sense of relaxation. The sugar in ice cream provides you with a temporary burst of energy, which further helps to counteract the lethargy and fatigue that often come with anxiety.

Not only that but eating gelato may also scientifically help you to feel better. For example, it can release serotonin and tryptophan, which are both key to helping the body to relax if you're feeling stressed. Gelato may also raise your dopamine levels, which can help with concentration and energy.

Gelato uses less sugar, an egg-free base, and primarily whole milk instead of sugar, egg, and cream, resulting in an additional richness and lower caloric count, sugar content, and butterfat content than regular ice cream.

Experts suggest eating any foods that contain added sugar and saturated fat, like ice cream, in a moderate and mindful way. In excess, these foods might displace nutritious choices in your diet and increase the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes over time.

What is the psychology behind ice cream? ›

The orbitofrontal cortex begins to respond after just a taste of ice cream, indicating that this portion of the brain is responsible for the joyful experience, according to researchers. According to research, nutrients like protein and fat in it aid our bodies raise our mood levels.

Gelato is actually a healthier option to indulge in than ice cream. It tends to contain more milk than cream and therefore has a lower fat content. It's also churned at a slower speed with less air in the mixture than ice cream — this results in smoother, creamier texture and a richer-tasting dessert.

Less air, more creaminess

Unlike industrial ice creams, which often have high levels of incorporated air to increase volume, gelato is churned at a slower speed, preventing the formation of ice crystals and resulting in a creamier and denser treat.

Ice cream can help to reduce anxiety

There's a reason people tend to go to ice cream when they're sad, and it's not just because it's great comfort food. Because ice cream contains milk, it also contains L-tryptophan. L-tryptophan is a type of a-amino acid that helps to reduce the activity of the nervous system.

Triggers Positive Emotions

Whenever we eat something sweet, you can feel a difference in your thoughts. This is because anything sweet like ice cream triggers positive emotions. According to research, ice cream activates happy hormones in the brain. This makes us happy all day long.

As a result, study subjects showed higher alertness and quicker response. At the same time, ice cream stimulated high-frequency Alpha waves, that serve as connectors between conscious thinking and subconscious mind and responsible for calmness and relaxation.

Endorphins are natural chemicals produced by our body that are responsible for reducing pain and promoting feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Eating ice cream can trigger the release of endorphins in our body, which can help reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being.