Blog with Friends - Ice Cream

Welcome back to another episode of Blog with Friends - this month's theme is Ice Cream.

In today's post I want to share some research I did on the following question:

Does ice cream make you happy?

I think everybody's immediate answer is "absolutely, what's not to love?" 

So I am trying to come up with hard, factual reasons why this is the case. Luckily, some smart people have set their wits to this topic:

According to one study eating ice cream activates the part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)”. The orbitofrontal cortex is the part of the brain where we feel an emotion or make a decision. So when you take a big scoop of your favorite frozen treat your OFC releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel better and cause a positive mood swing.

Naturally, when we are down, we want to feel better. When we consume ice cream a chemical release triggers our brain to feel make us feel better and then a habit is created when we remember what we were eating, ice cream.

Another reason why you reach for ice cream when you are feeling down is that ice cream contains nutrients which have an effect on our mood. Ice cream contains protein, in our case, it contains a lot of protein. Protein is made up of essential amino acids. The amino acids you ingest when you eat ice cream can positively affect your mood and limit mood swings.

In another study neuroscientists at the Institute of Psychiatry in London used a functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine - which is usually consulted to find the effects of brain damage and disease - to watch blood flowing to activated brain areas when people swallowed ice cream: the cold stuff lights up the same pleasure center in the brain as winning money or listening to your favourite music.

Picture from Pexels

Now is ice cream equal ice cream?

I believe not. Just like people, ice cream comes in all shapes and sizes: cones, containers, sandwiches, bars, cake, you name it.

Tell me your favourite flavour, and I'll tell you what kind of person you are. There are many articles out there. I liked thee one on kitchen.com:

1. Vanilla Ice Cream Some people might consider you a little basic, but they just don’t understand classic beauty. You appreciate good quality and minimalism. You’re not an anxious or stressed person – you find peace and balance in the everyday, and enjoy living in the moment.
2. Chocolate Ice Cream You lead a life of joy and self-love. While you have strong opinions about things, you are always open to explore new ideas and different experiences than your own. You probably live somewhere cozy and warm with lots of different kitchen tools you’ve collected from various friends all over the world.
3. Strawberry Ice Cream Your friends would describe you as fiercely loyal and energetic. You’re always the one who wants to go out after work or school – even after a long day. You enjoy working out in the morning and have a deep love for animals.
4. Coffee Ice Cream You’re an introvert who is often found reading in coffee shops alone. You love being by yourself. Your ideal night is taking a long walk and maybe meeting up with a friend from college and having good conversation over a beer.
5. Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream You’re pretty cool, to be honest. In high school you might not have been the most popular kid, but you hung around that crowd. You’re a balanced person – you like running and watching football, but you also love going to see a play. You’re loved by everyone and just want to have a good time.
6. Cookie Dough Ice Cream You are resourceful and crafty. Your home is filled with DIY projects you found on Pinterest, and you’re always throwing low-budget parties for your friends. You are drawn to bright colors and big patterns, but you’re not a loud or overly extroverted person. You probably love dogs.
7. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream You’re smooth and personable with a sense of humor. You don’t take much seriously, but love to learn and grow with whatever you’re doing at the moment. You’re not one for following trends, but you always seem cool no matter the circumstance.
8. Caramel Ice Cream You have a deep, multi-faceted soul. You probably enjoy yoga or meditation, and work at a job that challenges you. You love cats and your wardrobe probably includes a lot of black things. While some might be intimidated by you, you’re actually kinda shy and are generally a caring person.
9. Rocky Road You are adventurous and love being outside. You dream of owning a motorcycle and traveling across the country. You’ve had some ups and downs in your life, but you like to think positively. When there are campfires, tents, and stars in the world, things can’t be so bad.
10. Pistachio While initially you might come off as reserved, you really have a strong, unique personality. You are creative and complex. You might live in a city now, but always dream about moving to the country and starting your own farm. You are boundless and attract like-minded people.

So what do you think, did you recognise yourself in any of these statements? My favorite flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip, and I just recently had the chance to blog about it.

Let me wrap up this post by one of my favorite movie scenes that involves ice cream: 

When Harry met Sally:  Apple Pie à la Mode

This is her first choice: Heated pie, strawberry ice cream (not on top of the pie, though) fresh whipped cream. 
Second choice: pie, not heated

Before you take a trip to your freezer of close-by ice cream parlor, check out my friends' posts:

Karen of Baking In A Tornado Strawberry Pink Lemonade Ice Cream
Melissa of My Heartfelt Sentiments Ice Cream  
Lydia of Cluttered Genius Non-Food Rewards  
Dawn of Spatulas On Parade Tropical Sugar Free Ice Cream 
Kia Decou of The Ground Beneath my Feet Sweet Fun: The Turkish Ice Cream Show  
Tamara of Part-time working Hockey Mom Ice Cream and Psychology

Photo by Sai Kiran Anagani on Unsplash