Calcium & fun in one
Scientists have discovered that calcium in ice cream is absorbed by the body just as easily as the calcium in milk.
Good news on calcium
A Unilever-funded study demonstrates that calcium in calcium-fortified ice cream is as easily absorbed by the body as the calcium in milk.
A calcium boost
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, following in-depth research from Unilever scientists in the UK and the Netherlands. The journal's editor, a respected professor in Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University in the US, writes: "Ice cream is an interesting concept for a calcium-fortified food. It has many of the nutrients provided by milk, yet can offer greater taste appeal."
Vital for bone health
Calcium is essential for healthy bones and teeth – it is vital for building dense, strong bones in children and maintaining healthy bones and teeth later in life. Despite this, many people fail to consume enough of the nutrient, putting them at risk of skeletal problems – but the study's results may help strengthen ice cream's credentials as a calcium-rich alternative to milk or supplements.
Alternative option
"Dieticians often have misperceptions about ice cream, so this is a good start to change this," says Unilever Ice Cream Category Nutritionist Mary Kearney.
Efforts to address such misconceptions are already underway around the world. In Asia, for example, where drinking milk is not a common habit, Unilever's Moo brand ice cream offers a calcium-fortified alternative that's appealing to young children.
Quick facts on calcium
99% of the body's calcium is stored in our bones and teeth
As well as strong bones, calcium also supports healthy muscles
Unconventional foods rich in calcium include seaweed and dandelion leaves
