Ice cream can cure a rough day

People laugh when I tell them about my cure for a cold or flu.

Or for my allergies, when my eyes sweat and my nose runs like a leaky faucet.

Or when I stayed out too late the previous night, and my eyes won’t open, and my mouth is dry, and my head feels heavier than a sack of dry concrete.

Or when it’s cold, rainy and my bones and joints ache because, well, that’s what bones and joints do at my age.

What always makes me feel better?

Ice cream.

In a bowl or cone.

Preferably, vanilla ice cream.

But when it comes down to it, any ice cream is good ice cream.

I’m not overly fond of chunks in my ice cream. Nuts. Fruit. Candy bars. Cookies. I don’t like to chew my ice cream or risk choking. Cookie dough is the exception, though.

Ice cream always makes me feel better. Cold. Creamy. Sweet. Therapeutic. It’s not only good for me aches, but it’s good for my soul.

It’s officially ice cream season. Folks will stand in line for it. But there’s no true ice cream season. Ice cream tastes just as good in fall and winter as it tastes in summer and spring.

Confession: I’ve never had a bowl of ice cream and felt bad afterward.

I understand ice cream can’t work as medicine for everyone. Some folks are lactose intolerant. Some people have to avoid sugar. I’m sorry. Listen to your doctors.

My love for ice cream started at a young age. I could hear the bells or music of an ice cream truck blocks away. Like a dog hearing a distant, shrill whistle, I’d drop everything and run into the house for some loose change to meet that ice cream van when it entered my street. I always ordered the ice cream sandwich, with a red, white and blue Bomb Pop as a backup.

For the record, patriotic Popsicles are second to ice cream as my cure-all.

I can’t eat just one Popsicle.

By the time I’m done, the box is near empty and there are enough little wooden sticks for a day-camp art project.

I come from a long line of devout ice cream supporters. My late dad could eat ice cream with as much enthusiasm as some men tackle a ribeye steak. My grandpa didn’t mess around with normal bowls of ice cream. He went straight for the big mashed potatoes bowl.

I’m not an ice cream snob. I’m fine with Pevely or Sealtest as I am with Ben & Jerry’s. I’m not big on frozen yogurt. And never, ever try to slip me some ice milk!

I’ve preached that ice cream is good medicine. Now I’ve found a published medical opinion that supports my theory that ice cream is actually good for my health. According to a website called MagForWomen.com, these are four benefits to eating ice cream: (For the record, I don’t spend a lot of time reading women’s magazines or websites. But this information came through official Google research on ice cream.).

According to MagForWOmen.com:

Ice cream is a source of vitamins. Ice cream is a huge source of vitamins A, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E! It doesn’t stop there. Apparently, ice cream contains vitamin K, which prevents blood clotting. Ice cream also contains niacin, thiamine, and riboflavin. Not sure what those are, but they sound healthy.

Ice cream provides energy. Not only does ice cream have nutritional value, it also is an incredible source of energy. Ice cream is rich with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which are all needed for our bodies to produce energy.

Ice cream is a source of minerals. Minerals like calcium and phosphorus are found in ice cream. Calcium is an essential mineral for us as it maintains strong bones and reduces the chance of kidney stones. Get this: mood swings can also be prevented by eating ice cream.

Ice cream stimulates the brain. Ice cream stimulates the thrombotonin, which is a hormone of happiness and helps in reducing the levels of stress in the body. Ice cream is made of milk, which contains L-triptophane, which is a natural tranquilizer and helps in relaxing the nervous system. It also helps prevent symptoms of insomnia.”

Read enough?

Like a bowl of vanilla dressed with hot fudge on top, I can’t get enough.

After listing the health benefits of ice cream, I do not suggest you eat as much ice cream as you can. There are an equal amount of health issues that could arise from eating too much ice cream. Everything in moderation remember.

My springtime advice: Try some ice cream the next time you are not feeling great. Or you’re tired, hot or bored. Or for the heck of it. It’s ice cream season, right?

Plain vanilla.

I can’t guarantee it will make you feel better.

I can guarantee it won’t hurt one bit.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 4:52 PM with the headline "Ice cream can cure a rough day."