Ice cream, whipped cream, and creamy sauces all have one thing in common- cream. Heavy cream to be exact. This dairy food is used for many recipes, but is it used in the paleo diet? Keep reading to learn more below about heavy cream’s paleo suitability and more!
Heavy Cream is not paleo because it is a dairy-based product. The paleo diet is a nutrition plan that includes foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean meats, fish, and fruit while excluding grains, legumes, dairy products, refined products, salt, potatoes, and highly processed foods. The best paleo alternative to heavy cream is Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Cream.
But wait, there’s more! Keep reading to learn about the paleo diet, heavy cream, and some paleo-friendly heavy cream alternatives.
Contents
The Paleo Diet
The Paleo Diet is a dietary plan focused on eating only foods that humans ate 2.5 million years ago when they originally inhabited the world. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean meats, seafood, and fruit or nut oils are all included. Grains, legumes, dairy products, refined items, salt, potatoes, and highly processed foods, in general, are prohibited. Paleo diets have been linked to enhanced glucose tolerance, decreased lipid levels, particularly triglycerides, better blood pressure control, and higher meal satisfaction, according to research. That being said, some health specialists are doubtful of the paleo diet since it eliminates some items that have been demonstrated to improve health.
What is Heavy Cream?
Heavy cream is the thick part of the milk that rises to the top due to its high-fat content. With about 36-40% fat, it has one of the highest fat contents compared to other dairy products. Heavy cream, also known as heavy whipping cream is a staple ingredient in many recipes in Western diets. Found in things like ice cream, frostings, whipped toppings, and even creamy savory dishes, heavy cream is a versatile ingredient known for it’s thick texture and whipping ability.
What is Heavy Cream Used For?
Heavy cream is very high in milk fat and can be whipped into up stiff peaks for meringues, ice cream, and toppings. Heavy cream is also used for decorating pies or cakes, or for thickening sauces and ganache. Its thickness makes it useful in creamy soups and sauces, as well.
How is Heavy Cream Made?
Heavy cream is made by letting fresh milk stand so that a heavy cream rises to the top and can be scraped off. What is scraped off is the heavy cream, and it is the part of the milk that is highest in fat which is why it floats (fat is buoyant).
Different Brands of Heavy Cream
Heavy cream can be purchased from many different brands; however, they are each produced in mostly the same way, resulting in similar nutrient compositions. Moving forward, we’ll go through some different brands of heavy cream and review their nutritional content as well as discuss why heavy cream is not suitable for the paleo diet. We’ll even offer some ideas for other paleo-friendly heavy cream alternatives.
Review of Heavy Cream Nutrition
As mentioned above, most heavy cream varieties will provide the same nutritional content. However, the nutritional content does rely heavily on the amount of fat in the product, so for example you will see the difference between a 40% fat heavy cream and a 36% fat heavy cream. Either way, this is a high-fat dairy product that is not suitable for the paleo diet.
Why Heavy Cream is not Paleo
The paleo diet focuses on “ancient foods” meaning only foods that were available long ago. It is believed that dairy products were not included at that time, therefore they are not included in this lifestyle. Simply put, heavy cream is a dairy product, which is not allowed on the paleo diet and should be avoided for those following this nutrition plan.
Heavy Cream vs. Whipping Cream
From the products listed above, you’ll see things called “heavy cream” and “heavy whipping cream”. These two names are interchangeable. You will not see, though, just “whipping cream”, because it is slightly different. Whipping cream (not heavy) is a very similar product to heavy cream in the way it is produced and its ingredients. The only main difference is the milk fat percentage. Heavy cream’s fat percentage is a little higher at 36%-40% fat while whipping cream is in a lower bracket at 30%-35%. They are used for different types of recipes, heavy cream for creamier products like ice cream and soups, whipping cream mainly for whipped toppings.
Nutritional Content of Heavy Cream
Great Value Ultra-Pasteurized Real Heavy Whipping Cream
The list of ingredients in Great Value Ultra-Pasteurized Real Heavy Whipping Cream is:
- Heavy Cream
- Milk
- Contains Less Than 0.5% of:
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Polysorbate 80
- Carrageenan
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 50
- Total Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Carbs: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream
The list of ingredients in Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream Heavy cream is:
- Grade A Organic Cream
- Gellan Gum.
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 50
- Total Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Carbs: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
Land O Lakes Heavy Whipping Cream
The list of ingredients in Land O Lakes Heavy Whipping Cream is:
- Heavy Cream
- Skim Milk
- Contains 1% or Less of:
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Polysorbate 80
- Carrageenan
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 50
- Total Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Carbs: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Farmland Fresh Dairies Ultra-pasteurized 40% Heavy Cream
The list of ingredients in Farmland Fresh Dairies Ultra-pasteurized 40% Heavy Cream is:
- Cream
- Carrageenan
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Cellulose Gum
- Polysorbate 80
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 60
- Total Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Carbs: <1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: <1 g
- Protein: <1 g
Farmland Fresh Dairies Ultra-pasteurized 36% Heavy Cream
The list of ingredients in Farmland Fresh Dairies Ultra-pasteurized 40% Heavy Cream is:
- Cream
- Carrageenan
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Cellulose Gum
- Polysorbate 80
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 50
- Total Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Carbs: <1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Alternatives to Heavy Cream
Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Cream
Coconut cream is an excellent paleo, vegan, lactose-free alternative for heavy cream. It has a similar creamy consistency and nutritional content. Made from coconut meat, water, and guar gum, this product is 100% vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and okay for the paleo diet. Keep in mind that it does have a sweeter, fruitier flavor than heavy cream, so it can affect the taste of some recipes. You’ll also want to make sure you pick up “coconut cream” and not “cream of coconut”. Cream of coconut is a drink mixer used in cocktails like Pina Coladas that is high in sugar and will not act the same as coconut cream.
The list of ingredients in Thai Kitchen Gluten Free Unsweetened Coconut Cream are:
- Coconut
- Water
- Guar Gum
Nutrition Facts (per 1 tablespoon):
- Calories: 30
- Total Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Carbs: <1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: <1 g
- Protein: 0 g
Conclusion
Heavy cream is a high-fat dairy product that is used in many products and recipes for its creamy texture and ability to whip. It does contain dairy, though, which is not allowed on the paleo diet. Therefore, heavy cream is not a paleo-friendly food. Keep in mind that heavy cream and whipping cream are two different products based on their milk fat content, but both are still not suitable for the paleo diet. Instead, try coconut cream as an alternative in most recipes.
Related Questions
Is heavy cream vegan?
No, heavy cream is not vegan. This product is animal-derived, therefore it does not fall into the list of vegan-approved foods. Heavy cream is vegetarian. It does not contain any animal flesh or parts. It is an animal product, though, so it is only suitable for lacto- or ovo-lacto vegetarians.
Is heavy cream sugar-free?
Yes, heavy cream in its original form does not have any added sugar. It does contain natural sugar, called lactose, but is very rarely produced or sold with added sugars. If this is a concern for you, check the ingredient list to be sure.
Is heavy cream low in fat?
No, heavy cream is quite the opposite. This product is one of the highest in fat when it comes to dairy. It is used for its high-fat content in many recipes. So, if you are looking to reduce fat in your diet, heavy cream will not be the best option.
Is heavy cream gluten-free?
Yes, heavy cream is gluten-free because it does not contain any wheat products. However, it may be produced in facilities that also produce gluten products, so check the label if cross-contamination is a concern for you.