Desserts

The nutritional value for desserts varies greatly from one type to another depending on the ingredients used. Consult the calorie chart for your favorite desserts to determine the calories and nutrition facts.

High Sugar Content

While this may not be true for all desserts, many desserts contain high amounts of carbs from processed sugar. Processed sugar is high in calories and has the potential to produce dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels – this is especially dangerous for diabetics. The alternative to processed sugar is to use artificial sweeteners which may be equally or more dangerous. Compared to processed sugar, artificial sweeteners are low in or devoid of calories but they are laden with chemicals which can have a negative impact on your health.

Nutritional Value

The nutritional value of desserts varies greatly depending on the ingredients used. Many desserts are high in carbohydrate and fat from processed sugar and most desserts do not contain a significant amount of protein unless they are made from milk. Desserts made with fresh fruit may be a good source of vitamins and minerals, but those health benefits can easily be counteracted by the addition of sugar. The key thing to remember is that desserts should be enjoyed in moderation.

While many desserts are high in calories and low in nutritional value, some desserts do provide certain health benefits. For example, desserts made with dark chocolate can provide high levels of antioxidants and desserts made with fresh fruit may be rich in vitamins and minerals. Consult the calorie calculator for your favorite desserts to determine the calories and nutrition facts.

Dark Chocolate for Heart Health

Desserts made with dark chocolate can be somewhat good for you as long as they do not contain high levels of sugar or other high-calorie ingredients. Dark chocolate has been shown to have a number of significant health benefits. For example, it contains small amounts of various vitamins and minerals including iron, magnesium, potassium, copper, and selenium. Additionally, eating a small portion of dark chocolate several times a week may help to lower blood pressure, raise good cholesterol levels, and improve cognitive function.

Vitamins and Minerals

Though desserts made from unhealthy ingredients like processed sugar may not be very good for you, desserts consisting mainly of fresh fruits or fruit products can provide goo nutritional value. If you know anything about fruits and fruit products, you know that they are a great source of vitamins and minerals. Fruits and fruit products are particularly rich in vitamins A, C and K as well as essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Citrus fruits are some of the best sources of vitamin C while berries are particularly rich in calcium.