Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil Is Best Oil For Plant-Based Ice Cream
Plant-based ice cream made from extra virgin olive oil contains fewer calories and less fat than traditional milk-based ice cream.
Contents:
- Extra Virgin Olive Could Be Key To Innovative New Healthy Ice Cream
- Polyphenols In Extra Virgin Olive Oil Contribute To Healthier Ice Cream
- Olive Oil Based Ice Cream Versus Traditional Dairy Ice Cream: The Stats
- How To Enjoy Your Ice Cream With A Drizzle Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive Could Be Key To Innovative New Healthy Ice Cream
A new study from the University of Naples published in the Journal of Functional Foods considers the sensory and nutritional aspects of non-dairy olive oil ice cream.
As reported in Olive Oil Times, the researchers found that plant-based ice cream offers less fat and fewer calories than traditional milk-based ice cream.
The research also found that chemical interactions allowed polyphenols to be released upon digestion, providing potential antioxidants.
Data from the Naples study showed that extra virgin olive oil can be used to create new ice cream products which are potentially healthy and functional.
The study examined ice creams designed and developed by replacing milk cream with extra virgin olive oil.
The olive oil ice creams had less saturated fat and more mono-poly-unsaturated fatty acids.
Polyphenols In Extra Virgin Olive Oil Contribute To Healthier Ice Cream
Olive oil is known for its high content of polyphenols, a type of antioxidant that has been linked to lower risks of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. By swapping out traditional dairy fats for olive oil, your homemade ice cream can become a powerhouse of health-boosting properties.
So the next time you indulge in a scoop of olive oil ice cream, remember that it’s not just a delicious treat, but also a nutritious one!
Olive Oil Based Ice Cream Versus Traditional Dairy Ice Cream: The Stats
Comparing the nutritional content of ice cream made with traditional dairy products and with olive oil showed some interesting results. According to the Olive Oil Times, milk and chocolate-flavored ice creams containing 14.1 percent and 10.2 percent milk cream, or 5.1 percent and 3.6 percent extra virgin olive oil, were produced.
“Data showed that extra virgin olive oil can be a functional fat replacer in ice-cream recipes to produce healthier products,” the study authors wrote.
Sensory descriptions of the ice cream in a triangle test found that only the milk-flavored ice cream with extra virgin olive oil was distinguished from its traditional counterpart.
“What stands out about this study is the versatility of extra virgin olive oil,” Simon Poole, a physician and nutrition instructor for the Olive Oil Times Sommelier Certification Program, told Olive Oil Times.
“It is a functional food and can be added to other foods to become an innovative part of food cultures,” he added. “This can help people enjoy foods found in a traditional Western diet and experience some of the health outcomes associated with extra virgin olive oil.”
Poole explained that olive oil is the keystone ingredient of the Mediterranean diet and provides “profound” health benefits.
“The term you’ll hear is ‘polyphenol.’ These compounds are considered most important for their extraordinary impact, specifically their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits,” Poole said.
“The purpose of this experiment was to see if an ‘ice cream-like’ product that used extra virgin olive oil in place of the milk fat found in traditional ice cream would have an acceptable taste.
The results showed that not only was the taste acceptable, but the chocolate version was also found to taste the same as the traditional version made with milk fat.”
Mary Flynn, an associate professor of medicine at the Miriam Hospital and Brown University
Poole advised, “Using olive oil as an ingredient in ice cream offers consumers a wonderful way to explore the flavors and benefits of olive oil.”
Poole was keen to point out that extra virgin olive oil is just one component of the Mediterranean diet which also encourages regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts, among other ingredients.
How To Enjoy Your Ice Cream With A Drizzle Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
If making your own ice cream with extra virgin olive oil is a bit of a stretch but you still want to enjoy the taste and health benefits, why not simply drizzle it over your favourite scoops?
