Pairing fat and protein with carbohydrates (as in ice cream versus sorbet) slows digestion and moderates the blood glucose spike, without making ice cream a health food due to its energy density; a short walk after dessert also helps to mitigate this spike.

noli's read

The principle that the intake of lipids and proteins attenuates the rise in blood sugar is firmly anchored in digestive physiology. Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs), such as the one by Gentilcore et al. (2006), demonstrate that the co-ingestion of fats slows gastric emptying and delays carbohydrate absorption. Furthermore, a meta-analysis of randomized trials conducted by Engeroff et al. (2023) confirms that light physical activity, such as a walk after a meal, notably reduces post-meal blood sugar variations. Regarding the cited study, the meta-analysis of observational studies by Gijsbers et al. (2016) does indeed report positive associations between certain dairy products and blood sugar regulation. However, as the creator wisely specifies, these observations do not prove a direct cause-and-effect link for ice cream. By noting that a flatter glucose curve does not make a food healthy if it is otherwise very high in calories, her approach remains scientifically balanced.

the sources

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2. 2Shukla AP, Iliescu RG, Thomas CE, Aronne LJ 2015
3. 3Shishehbor F, Mansoori A, Shirani F 2017
4. 4Buffey AJ et al. 2022
5. 5Bellini A et al. 2023
6. 6Hall KD, Heymsfield SB, Kemnitz JW, et al. 2012
7. 7Rolls BJ 2009