Ice Cream & Blood Pressure
Ice cream isn't the healthiest of foods, as it's high in fat and calories and low in vitamins and minerals. Although ice cream is not detrimental to everyone, it can be inappropriate if you have special dietary concerns related to blood pressure.
Ice cream isn't the healthiest of foods, as it's high in fat and calories and low in vitamins and minerals. Although ice cream is not detrimental to everyone, it can be inappropriate if you have special dietary concerns related to blood pressure. Note that different brands of ice cream have different nutritional facts, so check product labels when available.
Calories
Ice cream is high in calories; 1 cup of this frozen dessert provides 286 calories. That amount comprises 14 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories. Eating one serving of ice cream alone won't make you overweight, but eating high-calorie foods makes weight management a challenge. Obesity is a risk factor for hypertension.
Fat
Ice cream is high in fat, with 14.5 g of total fat and 9 g of saturated fat in each cup. Your body does need some fat for optimal health, but the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends eating a diet low in saturated and total fat to help prevent high blood pressure. Thus, eating ice cream is not ideal if you're trying to keep your blood pressure in check.
Sugar
Ice cream is very high in sugar; 1 cup provides 33.5 g. While sugar helps add flavor to foods, it's not helpful for your overall health, as it can lead to tooth decay and encourages weight gain. Additionally, research published in the April 2010 edition of "The Journal of the American Medical Association" found that a diet rich in sugar promotes increased cholesterol levels. Too much cholesterol in your blood leads to high blood pressure, increasing your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Sodium
One nutrient with a major effect on blood pressure levels is sodium; too much sodium can increase your blood pressure. However, ice cream is low in sodium, with just 100 mg in 1 cup. That amount comprises just 4 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,300 mg, so this aspect of ice cream isn't likely to affect your blood pressure.
Fiber
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, eating a diet rich in fiber can help you control your blood pressure. However, 1 cup of ice cream provides less than 2 g of fiber, so it's not a good source of this nutrient. If you're replacing fiber-rich foods in your diet with ice cream, your risk of high blood pressure increases.