With spring arriving and summer right behind – and the joy of warmth again – the idea of ice cream comes to mind for most Americans.
When you walk into a local grocery store and see a container of ice cream on the shelf, with 280 calories in a one-pint serving, you think you have scored. The Halo Top fad has been brought to my attention, again and again, by friends, family and clients. Halo Top’s own site says, “We know it sounds too good to be true…” And, IT IS!
If you look at the details of what is in their product, you might question why the nutrient value is different – you might even wonder what some of those ingredients are. I strongly believe Halo Top is not a real food item. There is a trio of sugars -- or, sugar substitutes -- that have a low glycemic content, but are still not good for you. Your digestive tract is the key to your immune system. The chemicals in Halo Top can severely damage your gut flora, part of your digestive system.
Sugar # 1 is erythritol, commercially fermented sugar that the FDA nonetheless states is all-natural. Erythritol has been shown to cause diarrhea and headaches, and a recent study shows it can create belly fat.
Sugar # 2 is Stevia, which comes from a plant, but, when chemically treated, can negatively alter your immune system, and your gut.
Often, these sugar alternatives can leave you feeling unsatisfied, hence adding to the desire to eat an entire container.
The third one is cane sugar, the only one that is natural.
Everyone is so concerned with calories, and not with ingredients. Halo Top encourages consumers to eat an entire container – only 280 calories in a pint of vanilla bean, for instance. Fewer calories does not mean better nutrients. In the words of one expert, there is never an argument for eating an entire container of ice cream.
Marketing an ice cream to be consumed by the pint creates a problem for our society, solves nothing. Moderation is the key to a healthy lifestyle.
