AS TEMPERATURES rise,so does the demand for a quick, cooling indulgence,ice-creams being the most popular. But beneath the familiar tag of ‘ice cream’, there exists a distinction many consumers remain unaware of, one that has implications not just for nutrition, but for long-term health. One often picks up an ‘ice-cream’ cone and sees the words ‘frozen dessert’ on the packaging. It is assumed to be interchangable with ice-creams, and hence disregarded. This, however, is not the case. Difference in composition Ice-creamsand frozen desserts differin composition.Traditional ice cream is made from milk, milk solids, cream, and other dairy-based ingredients. Frozen desserts are made up of vegetable oils, most commonly palm oil, along with emulsifiers and stabilisers. Palm oil is widely used because it is cost-effective and easily available.

 

Its frequentconsumption, especially in combination with high sugar content, raises concerns when viewed as part of a regular diet. Palm oil causes serious health issues: Dr Pramod Gandhi, an endocrinologist, said that palm oil present in frozen desserts cause cholesterol to be deposited in blood vessels, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and even heart problems, even at young ages. This, including factors like an improper diet, sedentry lifestyle, irregular sleep cycle, all contribute towards chronic and serious health problems. Caloric density is another over looked factor. Dr Gandhi added, “Two scoops of a frozen dessert can contain calories comparable to an entire meal. Unlike a balanced meal, it does not provide the same sense of fullness or nutritional value. This makes it easy for people to consume excess calories without realising it.

 

Over time, such patterns contribute to weight gain, insulin resistance, and even impacts heart health.” Now common, Type II diabetes in children was unheard of in the 90s:Dr Gandhirecalled his early medical training in the mid-1990s, wherein even suggesting that a child had Type-II diabetes meant that you were wrong. “A child having Type-II diabetes was unheard of at the time. Today, that scenario has changed dramatically.Therehas been a noticeable rise in young patients presenting with pre-diabetic or diabetic conditions,hormonal imbalances, and obesity. Among adolescent girls, these patterns are frequently linked to conditions like weight gain,irregular menstruation, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), while boys are increasingly showing signs such as weight gain, acne, and insulin resistance, the latter ultimately leading to diabetes.” One of the causes is the increased consumption of processed foods.