There’s nothing better than a huge scoop of ice cream to cool you off on a hot summer day, right? Well, sort of. When you start eating it, you get an instant cooling effect in your mouth, but depending on how much you consume, it could actually make you feel even hotter.
That may sound counterintuitive, but it’s all because of digestion. When we eat anything with calories, it takes some work to burn off the fats, proteins and sugars. “It’s all about the thermic effect of digestion and absorption,” dietitian Tara Marchello explains. “And when we digest, it creates energy and heat. And therefore, our body temperature can go up.”
She says she wouldn’t advise anyone not to have ice cream during the summer, but there are things you can do to positively affect body temperature when you do:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water with no added sugar.
- Load up on foods with high water content, like tomato, cucumbers, berries and melon, which will also help you stay hydrated.
- Limit eating heavy or fried foods, as well as meats and bread, when it’s really hot outside because they also take a little more work to digest, which can raise body temperature.
- When it’s hot outside, stick to moderation, take your time and savor the moment while you’re indulging in ice cream and your body will thank you later.
Source: NY Post