Debunked: New Study Suggests Ice Cream is Healthy
Recent study done by scientist from Frito Lay insists ice cream is healthy as dairy industry is in Freefall
A new “scientific study” used in several news articles about ice cream in the last week is riddled with discrepancies and what only could be described as manipulative and sensationalized pseudoscience
https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/37925665/ARDISSONKORAT-DISSERTATION-2018.pdf?sequence=3
https://www.deseret.com/23683767/ice-cream-health-benefits
What these news sources missed was the actual words in the study itself which made several dubious claims and propositions. The article talks about dairy fat being good for you, which is a comparative notion, better than what? Starving? Eating a box of thumbtacks? The paper goes on to explain that dairy fat is better than salted red meat, but worse for you than nuts. Which is a point not metioned anywhere in the article.
Another suspicious aspect of this article is nowhere in the study do they discuss the bran of ice cream nor the ingredients. Keep in mind this was a heavily publicized study in America but it was conducted in the UK. The food standards vary widely especially when it comes to dairy quality and type of sugars. Nowhere in the article or the study do we learn how many grams of sugar are ideal to get these supposed health benefits. Which is important considering sugar is the number one reason for type 2 diabetes.
Another glaring problem with this study is the person who did it: Andres Ardisson Korat, A researcher who has worked for Frito Lay for almost a decade. Someone who understands the monetary value of sensationalized scientific claims and the promotion of consumer goods. When you live in a country at the heart of the obesity epidemic and is the diabetic capital of the world, you should take the nutrition science of that country with a grain of salt, or sugar.
It’s not a secret that we could get rid of swaths of obese people if we regulated Coca-Cola and kept industry from doing any research or regulation on behalf of public safety. The track record of capitalism and science marriage together is a rocky one.
Does Private Industry Create Misleading and Biased Research?
Yes, private industry has a history of conflicts of interest in scientific research. When a private company funds scientific research, there is a risk that the research results may be biased or influenced by the company’s financial interests.
Has the Dairy Industry Ever Made Misleading Claims About the Health Effects of Dairy
There have been instances where the dairy industry has made false or misleading claims about its products. For example, in the 1990s, the dairy industry ran a campaign promoting the idea that “milk does a body good,” implying that dairy consumption was essential for good health. However, this claim was found to be based on incomplete or misrepresented evidence, and some experts have argued that excessive dairy consumption may actually be harmful to health.
In addition, the dairy industry has been criticized for its marketing of milk as a source of calcium, despite evidence suggesting that calcium from other sources, such as leafy greens and fortified foods, may be more readily absorbed by the body. The industry has also been accused of downplaying the negative health effects of consuming high-fat dairy products, such as increased risk of heart disease.
In recent years, there has been increasing awareness of the potential negative health effects of consuming dairy products, particularly for people who are lactose intolerant or who have other health issues related to dairy consumption. Some experts have argued that the dairy industry has a responsibility to be transparent about the potential risks and benefits of dairy consumption, and to avoid making misleading claims about the health benefits of its products.
Private companies may have a financial interest in the outcome of scientific research, particularly if the research relates to a product that the company sells or hopes to sell. This can create a conflict of interest where the company may be motivated to influence the research in a way that supports its own financial interests, rather than producing unbiased and accurate results.
To address this issue, many scientific journals and research institutions require researchers to disclose any potential conflicts of interest and to separate their research from their financial interests. In addition, some organizations require that research be funded by independent sources rather than private industry.
There have been several examples of corporations doing bogus science for their products. Here are a few notable examples:
Tobacco industry: The tobacco industry has a long history of funding and conducting research that downplays the harmful effects of smoking. This research has been used to promote smoking as a safe and socially acceptable behavior.
Monsanto: Monsanto, a company that produces genetically modified crops and herbicides, has been accused of conducting and funding research that downplays the risks associated with their products. For example, a 2015 report from the World Health Organization concluded that Monsanto’s herbicide glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans”, but Monsanto had previously funded research that contradicted this conclusion.
Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola has been accused of funding research that downplays the health risks associated with sugary drinks. For example, in 2015, the New York Times reported that Coca-Cola had funded a group of scientists who published research suggesting that exercise, rather than reducing sugar consumption, was the key to preventing obesity.
These are just a few examples of corporations engaging in bogus science for their products. It’s important to note that not all industry-funded research is bogus, but it’s important to be aware of the potential for bias and to critically evaluate the research before accepting its findings.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/05/ice-cream-bad-for-you-health-study/673487/
Is Ice Cream a Health Food For Diabetics like the Article Claims?
Ice cream can have a significant impact on blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. Ice cream is a high-carbohydrate, high-sugar food that can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels when consumed.
When people with diabetes consume ice cream, their bodies may struggle to produce enough insulin to regulate their blood sugar levels. This can lead to hyperglycemia, which can cause a range of symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
It is generally recommended that people with diabetes limit their intake of high-sugar and high-carbohydrate foods like ice cream, and instead choose healthier dessert options that are lower in sugar and carbohydrates, such as fresh fruit or sugar-free frozen yogurt. If someone with diabetes chooses to have ice cream, it’s important to consume it in moderation and to monitor their blood sugar levels closely afterwards.
Is the Dairy Industry in Decline?
Milk consumption is down 42% from what it was a half-century ago — from 247 pounds per person in 1975 to just 144 pounds today, and that has put a squeeze on dairy farms. There are about half as many dairy farms as there were in 2003, a loss of more than 38,000 licensed operations. It could be that they know their days are numbered and its a matter of time before we drop dairy from our diets
