Science says: ice cream for breakfast makes you smarter

If there is something that makes us happy during this warm summer – at least, that's what I assume – it is a delicious cold scoop of pistachio ice cream. Or a tasty Cornetto from the beach bar on vacation, not to mention the Solero passion fruit. Ice creams make us incredibly happy and yet we often apologize for eating them and say things like: ‘After summer, it's back to normal’ or: ‘It's okay because it's so warm today.’

But what if I tell you that we can eat ice cream every day without feeling guilty? A Japanese study shows that three bites of ice cream a day can actually lead to more alertness and better mental performance throughout the day. That doesn't sound bad, does it?

Professor Yoshihiko Koga researched the effect of ice cream as breakfast; undoubtedly he was also an ice cream lover. He divided his subjects into two groups: one half ate ice cream immediately after waking up and the other half ate something else for breakfast. The participants then had to complete several tests on the computer, and the brain activity of both groups was measured and compared.

The result? The group that had eaten ice cream performed significantly better. In addition to a faster reaction time, their ability to store information was also greater. How is this possible? One possible explanation is the cold temperature of the ice cream, which sends shock signals to the brain, making it more alert.

Another possible explanation is the sugars present in ice cream, which can give the brain a boost. The professor conducted a second test with just a cold glass of water, and it turned out that the ice cream had a greater influence.

Finally, it has been scientifically proven that ice cream can trigger the ‘happy zone’ in our brains, although I had already figured that out myself by now. Well, in turn, this can enhance the functioning of our brain. In short: a few spoonfuls of ice cream in the morning is not such a bad idea after all. A small side note: of course, it is not the intention to replace your breakfast with ice cream. Instead, enjoy three spoonfuls to start your day festively and then still have a healthy meal to get the right nutrients.

Research shows: eating ice cream for breakfast makes you smarter.