Growing up, we learned that “sugar is bad for us.” From health to fitness magazines, we read articles after articles explaining why it’s bad amongst other things. Even people who are dieting ditch desserts first to start living a healthy lifestyle as advised. But life just wouldn’t be the same without a plate of heavenly pecan pie, gooey lava cake, or whatever dessert catches your fancy after the end of every meal.
And it only becomes bad when you consume sugary desserts excessively regularly. The same thing can be said for any other type of food, which means that fancy desserts can be good for you when consumed in moderation.
Top 6 Reasons to Eat Desserts
Are you still not convinced that you should leave room for eating desserts afterward? Listed below are some benefits that prove eating desserts can essentially be good for you and your health.
1. Provides the body with nutrients
From cakes and pastries to gelatins and ice creams, there are plenty more types of desserts prepared and consumed around the globe. Take note of their nutritional content because it varies as well, so you’ll benefit the most from eating desserts with vegetables and fruits as ingredients.
Avoid sugar-sweetened varieties and go for desserts with fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables that provide antioxidants to the body. Antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits can help fight free radicals that cause heart and other diseases and also promote a strong and healthy immune system. Fiber and vitamins, which are also good for the body, can also be consumed through desserts.
2. Desserts can help in lowering blood pressure
Did you know that a bar of chocolate or a plate of chocolate cake can help lower your blood pressure? Chocolates, specifically dark chocolate, are packed with organic compounds functioning as antioxidants. And as we all know, antioxidants are good for health as it helps fight off free radicals that can damage cells and cause various diseases.
The flavanols found in chocolate can also help in stimulating the lining of arteries inside the heart to produce NO or nitric oxide. The latter functions by sending signals to the arteries to relax. When the arteries are relaxed, there will be good blood flow resulting in reduced blood pressure. Therefore, this shouldn’t stop you from reaching for that dessert at home or in the restaurant. But remember, you should eat moderately.
3. Lowers the risk of strokes
Chocolate lovers would rejoice upon hearing that not only do chocolates help lower blood pressure, but they also help lower the risks of people suffering from strokes. People who consume chocolates and chocolate desserts in moderation, particularly dark chocolates, are less likely to have strokes in the future compared to those who don’t.
Chocolates contain a compound called flavonoids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory effects, inhibit oxidative damage, and many more. And so, if you’re looking for a healthy excuse why you have to eat that dark chocolate dessert, then this is it.
4. It can put you in a better mood
For most people, desserts have been their go-to thing whenever they are having a bad day and feeling stressed about their personal lives, work, or something else. Almost always, eating their favorite desserts puts them in a good mood. That is because after consuming carbohydrate-rich foods, the brain and body produce chemicals called serotonin.
The latter plays an important role in regulating sleep, pain, mood, and more. When your brain’s serotonin level is low, it can cause the person to feel anxiety, experience depression, and even have trouble sleeping. Hence, keep your mood good at all times with the help of desserts.
5. Good for people who want to keep their weight in control
One of the first things that people who are dieting give up is desserts. From that heavenly-tasting pie to various flavors of ice creams, they give it up because they thought it wouldn’t be good for their dieting plan.
But you’ll know that restricting your sweet cravings won’t do you good in the long run as it can lead to a diet failure, and that is because it only improves dieting goals for a short time. If you want to achieve long-term success in losing weight, you need to exercise regularly, eat healthily, and still satisfy your sweet cravings with small amounts of desserts.
6. You become active
Reaching for that last piece of apple pie or peanut butter bar may make you feel guilty at first. But that’s another good thing about desserts because you’ll consciously decide to work it off subsequently. You will be inspired to become more active and exercise to burn off those calories. They also make decisions such as cutting off foods that are rich in added sugars to maintain their diet and still indulge in their sweet cravings later on.
Conclusion
So you see, desserts aren’t always so bad for you and your body. As long as it’s consumed in moderation, you will be reaping the benefits in no time. So go ahead, and grab that cake or ice cream because you deserved it.
