Heavy cream is super versatile, as it can be added to ice creams, used as frosting in cakes, topping for merengue pies, and used to adjust texture in sauces and soups. However, because we are diabetic, we must limit our daily carb intake to align with the ration suggested by our dietician. So, should diabetics have heavy cream? Here is all you need to know:
What is heavy cream?
Milk is the magical ingredient in cheese, heavy cream, and whipped cream. When fresh milk is collected, some fats collect on top of the milk (these fats are known as heavy cream).
After the heavy cream is removed, the rest of the milk and fat are homogenized until the fats in the milk are turned into infinitesimal droplets that remain suspended without the aid of any stabilizer (more like when you emulsify vegetable oil, egg yolks, and vinegar to form mayonnaise).
Just like the decree on mayonnaise, which has to contain egg yolks as the major emulsifier and 65% vegetable oil before it will be classified as mayonnaise, the FDA has decreed that heavy cream must contain between 36% and 40% of butterfat, with the remainder of its content being milk, before it will be classified as heavy cream.
Is heavy cream healthy?
Heavy cream is mostly fat and has a rich choline, fat-soluble vitamins (which absorb more easily when consumed with fats), and mineral deposits. A cup of 120g supplies 43g fats, 3g proteins, 3g carbs, 55% of your vitamin A daily value, 10% of vitamin D daily value, 7% of vitamin E daily value, phosphorus, vitamin K, and calcium.
Saturated fats, which have constantly been touted as a contributor to heart disease, constitute the majority of fats in heavy cream. However, recent research does not associate consumption of diary fats with heart diseases. Some emerging research has further highlighted that saturated fats can help fight against heart diseases.
Further, heavy cream can help improve vision as it is loaded with Vitamin D, which protects you from blurred vision and night blindness. Heavy cream is also a great addition to your diet if you have bone density issues. However, excessive consumption of heavy cream has been linked to the worst survival rate of breast cancer and a higher risk of dementia.
Can diabetics eat heavy cream?
Heavy cream is a great choice for diabetics or weight loss as it has a minuscule carbohydrate content of 3.25 grams per 120g cup. Also, a study has shown an association between consumption of diary fats and reduction of insulin resistance.
Like every other milk derivative, you can have heavy cream, but in moderation, as too much can be a counterproductive approach to supplying your body with the necessary nutrients it needs.
Is heavy cream good for diabetics? Summing Up
Heavy cream is good for diabetics as it has low carb content, and research has proven that it reduces insulin resistance and improves the overall health of the consumer. Also, the fear we had for years of fats clogging our atteries and causing all sorts of heart problems is being disproved by emerging research; however, moderation is key.
