Who doesn't love dessert? When I was a kid it was certainly my
favorite part of dinner. And it may very well be yours as well. But
dessert is one time when the health-conscious need to be especially
wary. When the main course is finished, sweets take over the dinner
table, and it's sugar more than anything else that can derail our plans
to be lean and fit.
The Dangers of Sugar
Sugar is one of the biggest contributors to obesity due to it's direct link in causing metabolic syndrome, a disease affecting one quarter of all Americans where elevated insulin levels cause the body to continually store fat away. If that's not enough, metabolic syndrome is a precursor to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer as well.
Never Fear, Dessert Is Here!
Don't worry, you can still enjoy dessert! But you will need to be more careful than you do with the rest of your meal. You want to avoid things that are:
The Power of Fruit
The best dessert you can eat is one composed of whole fruit. The amount of sugar in fruits is small enough that you don't need to worry about their long-term consequences. Plus, they are loaded with anti-oxidants and vitamins!
Most fruits are excellent raw and can be a great dessert in and of themselves. Some good examples are papayas, pineapple, and figs. If you are looking for something a bit snazzier, here are a few ideas:
Sugar is one of the biggest contributors to obesity due to it's direct link in causing metabolic syndrome, a disease affecting one quarter of all Americans where elevated insulin levels cause the body to continually store fat away. If that's not enough, metabolic syndrome is a precursor to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer as well.
Never Fear, Dessert Is Here!
Don't worry, you can still enjoy dessert! But you will need to be more careful than you do with the rest of your meal. You want to avoid things that are:
- Overly processed and refined.
- Composed of excessive sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
The Power of Fruit
The best dessert you can eat is one composed of whole fruit. The amount of sugar in fruits is small enough that you don't need to worry about their long-term consequences. Plus, they are loaded with anti-oxidants and vitamins!
Most fruits are excellent raw and can be a great dessert in and of themselves. Some good examples are papayas, pineapple, and figs. If you are looking for something a bit snazzier, here are a few ideas:
- Fill a bowl with berries or peaches, top with freshly whipped cream
- Bake apples or pears with coconut oil (or butter), lemon juice, and cinnamon
- Broil bananas and top with yogurt