There's Now an Ice Cream Cleanse—But Is It Healthy?

There's Now an Ice Cream Cleanse—But Is It Healthy?

What a nutritionist thinks of the idea

Have you ever wished you could eat ice cream for every meal? Well, Kippy's Ice Cream Shop in Venice, California, recently offered a four-day ice cream cleanse. That's right: Ice cream all day. Every day. 

Kippy's ice creams are organic, raw, and coconut-based, so they're non-dairy (although it's worth noting that they contain honey, so they're not vegan). Cleansers got five servings of ice cream a day in flavors such as Orange Crème and Master Cleanse (which features lemon, cayenne pepper, and honey) for $220. (That price included a daily yoga class at the studio next door to the shop.) 

So, spoiler alert: While the cleanse sounds fun, it's not actually a smart choice, says Brooke Alpert, R.D., founder of B Nutritious. "Whether the ice cream is coconut-based or not, I'm very concerned about the variety of nutrients that you're getting—or the lack thereof," she says. Any time you're relying on a very limited selection of foods—instead of a variety of good-for-you options—you're putting yourself at risk for nutritional deficiencies because you can't possibly be getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need. (According to Gizmodo, you're allowed to nosh on organic, raw foods such as an avocado or salad if you need to during the cleanse, but they're not actually a part of the recommended diet during those four days.)

MORE: Are Juice Cleanses REALLY Like Eating Twinkies?

Wondering about the weight-loss factor? Brent Rose of Gizmodo tried this ice cream cleanse with his girlfriend and did drop about six pounds, but he wrote that he gained it all back over the course of a long weekend. See, here's the thing: "If in some ways your meals are limited, you most likely are going to be eating less—and therefore you are most likely going to be losing weight," says Alpert. That doesn't mean it's necessarily good for you or healthy, though. "While you might lose weight, the weight comes all right back because it's not a sustainable lifestyle approach."

MORE: 15 Signs You're on a Juice Cleanse

Rose did say that the upshot of the cleanse was the tastiness. "The ice cream really is delicious, and I'd definitely recommend it without hesitation (in small, normal-sized doses)," he wrote on Gizmodo. 

The good news: Alpert also says it's fine to snack on ice cream when you have the occasional urge—either the coconut-based or the dairy-based variety.

MORE: 4 Delicious Ways to Detox

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