Sweet Treats: Why They Can Help Boost Your Health and Longevity
Written by Audrey Hayward
With Thanksgiving tomorrow, and other big holidays coming up around the corner, who doesn’t like to celebrate with delicious meals and special homemade sweets? The holiday season is a time filled with foods that evoke comfort, pleasure, and nostalgia. I know personally, I’ve been so excited to try all the holiday drinks coming out (I’m a sucker for anything with marshmallows or peppermint). But, for many, it can also be a time for anxiety and heightened food guilt. The most important part of the holidays, arguably, would be enjoying food and time with your family and friends, so let’s talk about some reasons why we shouldn’t feel bad for indulging during the festivities.
So to start with the obvious, eating treats makes us happy! Other than the fact that we get to enjoy a delicious snack or dessert, sweet and starchy foods can help our bodies make serotonin, a natural body chemical and neurotransmitter that helps control your mood, sleep, pain, wellbeing and sexual desire. Low levels of serotonin are associated with problems related to sleep, digestion, depression, and anxiety (Health direct). Additionally, they can help lower our cortisol levels, the stress hormone in our body, making us calmer. Many studies have shown that depression, anxiety, and irritability have all decreased after eating carbohydrate rich foods, such as pumpkin pie or gingerbread cookies (CUNY).
Before we dive into the nutritional value of desserts and sweets, you might be wondering what makes carbohydrates beneficial? Well, carbohydrates are sugar molecules that are necessary nutrients our bodies break down and turn into glucose. Glucose (blood sugar) is our body's main source of energy for everything including our cells, tissues, and organs (Medline). Without carbohydrates, our body doesn’t have the fuel and energy for our brain to function properly or for our body to protect us against disease (Banner Health). Carbohydrates are found in most desserts, ranging from strawberry cheesecake to doughnuts. Even though there are healthier forms of carbohydrates, done in moderation, eating simple carbohydrates through desserts is beneficial. Truly one of the best workouts I’ve ever had was after eating ice cream, so remember, food is fuel!
Now let’s talk about nutrition. As a dark chocolate girl, I was happy to learn darker chocolates naturally have many nutrients including fiber, iron, copper, magnesium, antioxidants (Healthline); and influence blood pressure and risk of heart disease as well (CNET). The higher the percentage of cacao, the more flavanols it has. Flavanols are a natural compound found in cocoa and other plants. They increase blood flow and circulation to the brain’s frontal cortex, which is the section that controls judgment, creativity, motor tasks, planning and decision making (El-Baba RM). Research showed that increased blood flow due to the flavanols found in cocoa led to higher scores as well as quicker times for questions solved on cognitive tests (Harvard Health). So the nighttime routine girls on TikTok that seem to always have a little square of dark chocolate before bed, might be onto something.
Practice some self-care by enjoying some sweets (especially well deserved after answering all of those questions you've been dreading from family members - we all have at least one).
Eat what you want, happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy the upcoming holiday season!
Be well,
Audrey
Sources:
“Can Eating Dessert Really Help You Relax? Science Says Yes.” CNET, www.cnet.com/health/mental/eating-dessert-can-help-you-relax/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
“Carbohydrates.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, medlineplus.gov/carbohydrates.html#:~:text=What%20are%20carbohydrates%3F,cells%2C%20tissues%2C%20and%20organs. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
“Carbs Don’t Have to Be Your Enemy, Here’s Why: Banner Health.” Carbs Don’t Have to Be Your Enemy, Here’s Why | Banner Health, www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/advise-me/why-carbohydrates-arent-your-enemy#:~:text=Carbohydrates%20are%20actually%20super%20important&text=Macronutrients%20are%20a%20form%20of,through%20your%20day%20and%20workout. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
El-Baba RM, Schury MP. Neuroanatomy, Frontal Cortex. [Updated 2023 May 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554483/
“A Flavanol-Rich Diet May Increase Brain Function.” Harvard Health, 1 Mar. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/a-flavanol-rich-diet-may-increase-brain-function.
Gunnars, Kris. “7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 13 July 2022, www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate.
“Why We Crave Comfort Food and How to Make It Healthier.” BMCC Start Here. Go Anywhere., www.bmcc.cuny.edu/news/why-we-crave-comfort-food-and-how-to-make-it-healthier/. Accessed 21 Nov. 2023.
