Science says: ice helps when your relationship is over

Dating yes, because that sounds cozier than a relationship. Did you always find it strange that you dove into a bucket of ice when love was finito, over and done? It doesn't have to be that way anymore. Good news from our neighbors at FavorFlav: ice cream helps against heartbreak. Just read along, this is what they have to say about it.

Food psychologist Jen Bateman tells HuffPost that if you used to get an ice cream as a child when you were sad or simply have good memories of ice cream, you will crave it much more often. Those cravings are linked to food from our past.

Sugar dip

There are even more reasons why ice cream is our greatest friend when we have heartbreak. ‘Our brains are used to finding high-calorie foods rewarding,’ says Ashley Gearhardt, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. Ice cream contains fat and sugar, which gives your brain a big reward, making you feel really good for a moment as you scoop up that entire tub. Unfortunately, after that sugar bomb, you can also experience a dip. ‘You get a crash after the sugar wears off; you have emotional memories from the past and think you’ll feel better after an ice cream. But ultimately, you don’t feel as good as you thought,’ Gearhardt explains. You regret it, feel nauseous, and have little energy, leading you to seek out other snacks like chips or even alcohol.

The more, the worse

The first spoonful of ice cream always tastes the best and makes you feel better, according to research from Unilever. Gearhardt explains that the more ice cream you eat, the less you taste it. At some point, you’re just mindlessly working your way through the ice cream without registering the flavor anymore. That doesn’t change the fact that that tub of ice cream always reminds us of the ice cream we used to get, so just bring that tub home.

Text: FavorFlav