There are a variety of reasons why people choose to purchase home ice cream machines. With summer right around the corner, there couldn’t be a better time to own one. You can find one at just about any place that sells kitchen appliances. Places such as Wal-Mart, Target, K-mart, and Sears are just a few of the best places to shop when looking for discount prices.

Have you ever thought about how much you spend on your favorite creamy dessert at the grocery store? Most brands cost between $5.00 and $7.00 per half gallon. The majority of home ice cream machines cost between $40.00 and $60.00. Considering that most families purchase ice cream on a regular basis, the savings are definitely worth it. Not to mention, homemade always tastes better to most people. You also don’t have to worry about all of the extra chemicals and preservatives that most other manufactured brands contain.

One of the greatest things about home ice cream machines is the variety available. There isn’t just one particular type. There is the Hamilton Beach 1 1/2 Quart Maker that makes your favorite icy treat within 20-40 minutes. All you have to do is add the ingredients and like magic, your cold treat is ready in a jiffy. If you’d rather take a more old-fashioned approach, then there is the White Mountain 6-quart Hand-Crank machine. With this machine, you get a lot more the old-fashioned way by using a hand crank. The biggest convenience to this particular machine is that you get to choose the texture you want. For creamier icy treat, simply churn a bit more.

Another one of the home machines available is the Play & Freeze 1-Pint Ice Cream Maker Ball. This machine allows you to make 1-quart of your favorite flavor within 30 minutes. It’s also portable, meaning that you can take it anywhere with you. It only weighs 3 pounds, making it the perfect addition for picnicking, camping, and road trips.

If you want more, you might find that you like the Deni Automatic Ice Cream Maker with Candy Crusher. This machine requires no ice or salt, and is automatic, so it’s hassle-free. What makes this machine so unique is that it crushes up pieces of candy into your favorite flavor, and it’s also very affordable.

Sure, you can always purchase your favorite brand at the store or in a restaurant, but what could be better than making your own icy treat at home? Anything homemade is always better, and cheaper.

Hot new research reveals that ice cream, when eaten as part of a healthy diet, may actually melt away fat, helping you lose weight quicker than if you abstained! Plus a dish a day helps you get healthier in other ways according to Marsha Hudnall’s book, THE ICE CREAM DIET.

But before you head out for a couple of gallons of Ben and Jerry’s remember that too much can find it’s way to the hips, belly and other unwanted places.

One of the key benefits of ice cream is that it may satisfy your cravings better than any other food. “When we tell ourselves we can’t have something, we immediately focus our attention on what’s forbidden, which increases our desire and chances of losing control,” says Marsha Hudnall, RD, of Green Mountain at Fox Run, a “non-diet” weight control spa.

A key benefit of ice cream is the calcium it provides. Only 4% of women over 50 meet the daily 1,200 mg goal. The average female calcium intake is only 652 mg. Less than one third of men reach these same goals.

Calcium is also ice cream’s “secret” slim down ingredient. In a recent study, overweight people who took a calcium supplement lost 38% more body fat than those who ate the same reduced-calorie diet without the supplement.

How does calcium help you lose? A diet low in calcium shuts down your body’s fat burning ability, say experts. When your body doesn’t get enough calcium, it triggers fat cells to store fat and get bigger.

So, how much ice cream is “reasonable?” The guideline is a one-half cup serving of no more than 125 calories. My personal favorite is Bryers No Sugar Added Vanilla. It has only 120 calories per 1/2 cup and the flavor reminds me of the “good old days” when we took turns cranking the six quart ice cream freezer full of moms special recipe.