It’s a blistering hot afternoon. You’ve got sweat trickling down your back, the sun is out there on a mission, and you’re ready to throttle the next person who says, “Summer’s fun, yaar!” Just when you think you can’t take it anymore, a scoop of mango ice cream lands in your hand like a sweet miracle. Ah! Instant heaven, right?
Well, hold that thought. While your mouth might be going “aaaaahhh”, your body could actually be going “wait, what the heck just happened?” Yep, you read that right. Your favourite summer treat might be heating you up instead of cooling you down. Let’s unravel this sweet little lie.
Feels Cool, But… Plot Twist!
Sure, when you take a bite of ice cream, your mouth experiences a lovely chill. That’s basic physics—cold stuff meets warm surfaces, and boom, you feel cooler. But this cooling is like that one friend who shows up at parties but disappears when it’s time to clean up: temporary and not very helpful.
Dr Manjusha Agarwal, Senior Consultant at Gleneagles Hospitals, Mumbai, says, “The mouth and throat receptors interpret the cold as a cooling signal, but your body actually reacts by increasing metabolic activity to counterbalance the drop.” Your body is like, “Oh, we’re freezing? Time to fire up the engine!” Classic case of too much enthusiasm.
Your Body Turns Into A Furnace
Enter the buzzkill of this party: diet-induced thermogenesis. Basically, your digestive system is doing CrossFit after you eat, especially when you consume foods rich in fats, like our creamy, buttery beloved ice cream. And as a result? Heat, baby!
According to Riya Desai, Senior Dietitian at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai, “Fats require more energy to metabolise. This digestion releases heat, raising your internal body temperature.” A 2019 study by Dr Bohdan Luhovyy from Mount Saint Vincent University even confirms this. So, while your tongue is cheering, your gut is sweating bullets trying to process all that rich dairy.
Your Body’s Thermal Settings
You know that tiny manager in your brain who’s always watching the thermostat? That’s your hypothalamus. It ensures your core body temperature stays between 36.5°C and 37.5°C (which is around 97.7°F to 99.5°F for the Celsius-challenged). So, every time you chuck something cold into your system, it doesn’t relax—it panics.
Your brain senses the chill and immediately sends the troops (blood) rushing towards the vital organs to maintain balance. It might even shut off the blood supply to your fingers and toes temporarily. Cold in the mouth? Emergency at HQ! That little scoop of butterscotch triggered a full-on internal crisis.
Also Read: What’s The Deal With McDonald’s Ice Cream Machines Always Broken?
Real Coolants: Chaas, Nimbu Paani & Your Mum’s Wisdom
Now here’s the part that’ll hurt a bit — “ice cream isn’t even your best bet in the heat.” Sad, but true. If you really want to beat the Indian summer, ask your mum (or any desi dadi). She’ll hand you a glass of chaas, nimbu paani, or nariyal paani, the OG summer coolers that hydrate without burdening your system.
Dr Agarwal recommends these for a reason—they don’t trigger thermogenesis, are packed with electrolytes, and keep you refreshed. Throw in fruits like watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumbers, and your body’s temperature dial might actually drop a little. Take it from grandma’s wisdom: less drama, more hydration.
A Chilling Business Boom
Despite all this thermogenic drama, ice cream isn’t going anywhere. India is gobbling it up like there’s no tomorrow. According to a report by IMARC Group, India’s ice cream market was valued at over INR 20,000 crore in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13% until 2028. That’s a lot of cones, cups, and kulfi, my friend.
The Indian ice cream business is also a creativity fest—from masala chai flavours to gulab jamun swirls, we’re innovating our way through brain freezes. Brands like Amul, Naturals, and Vadilal are battling it out in a market that’s more competitive than a family game of Ludo. But just because business is booming doesn’t mean your internal thermostat is thrilled about it.
Let’s be real—knowing that ice cream raises your body temperature probably won’t stop you from eating it. And honestly? Same. It’s a mood, it’s a vibe, and sometimes it’s just emotional support in a cone.
But here’s the deal: don’t rely on ice cream to save you from the wrath of Indian summers. That’s what chaas, lemon water, and shade were invented for. Ice cream is a treat, not a coolant. So go ahead and enjoy it—just don’t expect it to be your personal AC.
And the next time someone says, “Ice cream cools you down,” hand them this article… and maybe a glass of buttermilk.
Sources: Hindustan Times, FirstPost, Economic Times
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: cooling myths, summer heat tips, does ice cream cool you, ice cream facts, diet induced thermogenesis, quirky science, indian summer survival, fun with food science, beat the heat naturally, summer health tips, food myths busted, ice cream truth, summer hydration hacks, nutrition explained, indian dietitians speak, health humor, science with sarcasm, digestion facts, metabolism explained, summer food tips, health with humor, stay cool stay smart, food science simplified, heatwave survival, desi cooling drinks, myth vs fact
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