If you think that proper nutrition and diet are incompatible with sweets, then we have great news – they can be friends! We tell you what healthy goodies should be included in the usual diet.
To completely refuse sweets is boring and harmful to the emotional state. Sweets bring a touch of euphoria and incomparable happiness to life: I ate a candy, and my mood immediately increased. When eliminating refined sugar from the diet, it is worth remembering the balance, because glucose is necessary for energy production and the production of serotonin, which is responsible for good mood. We suggest paying attention to healthy sweets that do not contain harmful sugar.
Honey
Delicious, sweet, viscous and very healthy, unless, of course, you abuse it and eat it 1-2 teaspoons a day. Unlike refined sugar, honey is completely natural. It is rich in vitamins, antioxidants and organic acids.
Vitamin A in honey is 60 times more than in beef!
It also contains biogenic stimulants that activate the vital functions of important internal systems of the body. The special chemical composition of honey allows it to be classified as a dietary product. One has only to remember that honey is a fairly strong allergen, so you need to eat it with caution and in moderation.
Dark chocolate
Chocolate is a favorite “sweet pill” for many women. Just a couple of pieces can replace a real antidepressant. But what about fats and harmful carbohydrates, of which there are many in chocolate? The secret is that they are found in milk chocolate, but not in dark. If you can’t imagine a day without chocolate, choose a dark bitter variety.
Nutritionists and nutrition coaches believe that the daily allowance of 30 grams is quite acceptable: this is about a quarter of a bar in 100 g. But the benefits of such a snack are obvious:
- reduces pressure;
- improves memory and concentration;
- improves mood.
For residents of the northern latitudes, where there is practically no sun for about nine months a year, chocolate is absolutely necessary. Scientists have found that it has a positive effect on visual acuity.
dates
Dried dates are very sweet and healthy dried fruits. They are rich in vitamins, fiber and antioxidants needed by the body. In addition, dates:
- strengthen the immune system;
- benefit pregnant women;
- reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease;
- serve as a good prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.
They can also be an alternative to refined sugar. How? Try making pasta out of them. Grind a handful of pitted dates with water in a blender – the paste is ready. Use it in place of sugar in any recipe. The ratio of sugar and date paste is 1:1.
Blueberries, currants and other “blue” berries
Fruits and berries are a great sugar substitute and a healthy snack option. The blue color of the berries indicates that they contain a lot of plant pigments anthocyanins. They have a wide range of beneficial effects, have a beneficial effect on the body and our beauty. Curl your fingers:
- have an antioxidant effect;
- fight free radicals;
- strengthen the walls of blood vessels and capillaries;
- have a beneficial effect on vision.
Plus, there is a lot of vitamin C in blue berries, which accelerates the synthesis of collagen and dietary fiber, so after eating them, the feeling of hunger disappears. So a handful of berries in the middle of the day is not only tasty, but also healthy.
Apples
This fruit is all-season and low-calorie – only 40 kcal in red fruits, and even less in green ones. But what a benefit! Count yourself:
- Fiber, which apples are rich in, improves digestion and quickly satisfies hunger.
- Pectin – a proprietary substance of apples, promotes the removal of “bad” cholesterol from the body and improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Flavonoids and phenols work on the beauty and youthfulness of the skin, serve as a prevention of cancer.
- Vitamin C boosts immunity.
In addition, tea brewed from fresh apples promotes good sleep, improves mood and saves from depression.