Are there any sweets that are good for your figure? What time of day is it better to eat so as not to gain weight? Mint candies: benefits and harms

To eat or not to eat – that is the question. Are there any Lenten sweets, or should we abandon them altogether? Let's figure it out.

In the Orthodox tradition, 4 long fasts are observed per year, not counting fast days in the week (Wednesday and Friday) and the days of remembrance of some saints. These days you cannot eat fast food - milk, meat, eggs. In the monastic tradition, fish and vegetable oil, days of fasting and dry eating are practiced, but in order to observe all the strict rules in worldly life, the blessing of a confessor is required.

Refusal of certain foods is only part of the whole idea of religious fasting and is by no means the main one, but an auxiliary one. The main thing, according to believers, is spiritual abstinence from passions, bad and evil thoughts and idle pleasures. But with sweets the issue is controversial. Some confessors classify sweet foods as pleasures, while others believe that they are permissible as part of worldly life, especially for children and newcomers who are just beginning to learn all the intricacies of church traditions. Moreover, in the world people are faced with a much larger number of irritants and temptations than in the closed world of a monastery, and therefore it is better to eat candy than to defile the soul with anger, resentment or something similar - the soul in this matter is more important than food.

So, the main rule for fasting lay people is to avoid animal products. There are actually more sweets that are familiar to us, which can not be excluded from the diet during this period, than it seems.

HALVA. It is made from seeds, nuts, sugar and a vegetable foaming agent. Nutritious lean product, rich in amino acids and vitamins. It is better to choose regular halva in jars, rather than candies with halva filling - the chocolate and even the filling itself may contain milk or egg white.

BITTER CHOCOLATE. Many people are surprised, but this is a lean product. Cocoa, sugar and vanilla are its main ingredients. Those who are used to a milder and sweeter taste can buy dark chocolate– you can use it too, but some brands contain milk (the variety allows this), so it’s better to look at the ingredients. But milky, white and dessert chocolate it is better to postpone until Easter or another holiday that ends the fast.

MARMALADE, BUT NOT ANY MARMELADE, but with pectin. Gelatin or collagen is a product of animal origin; such marmalade should be saved until Easter or Christmas. Pectin (often labeled with code E440) is a polysaccharide that is contained in large quantities in apples, citrus fruits and root vegetables. Pectin marmalade is usually softer and more viscous. Agar is also acceptable for lean marmalade - this is an extract from seaweed, in the composition is often designated by code E406. Marmalade on agar is more similar to gelatin - just as elastic and dense.

CANDY CARAMEL. Essentially it is melted sugar; it is not prohibited during fasting. You can eat the lollipops without looking caramel candies with the filling you should be more careful: lean ones only with fruit jam, marmalade or halva.

GRILLAGE. Crushed nuts with the same caramel and sometimes with the addition of fruit jam.

CANDIES WITH LENT FILLINGS. Among our usual ones there are also quite a few of them. Finding them is easy: the filling should be praline (caramelized nut paste), fudge sugar or marmalade. Among the most famous Lenten sweets are “Squirrel”, “Citron”, “Golden Scallop Cockerel”, “Southern Night”, “Sun” and many others. Sweets should be avoided during fasting waffle filling and waffle crumbs - waffles must include egg white.

Thus, the range of sweets that can be eaten during fasting is very wide. In order not to get lost in it, you can order them through the website of the Alenka online store, where there is a separate section with Lenten sweets.

If cholesterol is higher than the allowed norm, you need to start treatment immediately, otherwise serious consequences cannot be avoided. Increased cholesterol levels are normalized with complex therapy. This includes lifestyle changes and a special diet. In the process you will have to give up a lot familiar products nutrition. This includes most sweets.

Sugar, as such, has no effect on cholesterol levels. Traditional store-bought sweets contain a lot of animal fats, which increase the amount of harmful fat in the body.

Majority confectionery prepared with the use of these harmful substances. Long-term consumption of this type of product promises the appearance of cholesterol plaques, and as a result, atherosclerosis. Both women and men are equally at risk.

Many people love sweets, and completely giving it up will be a challenge. A sweet lover with such a pathology wonders what sweets are possible with high cholesterol? By the way, sweets can be replaced with healthier ones, which are allowed during the diet. They have natural ingredients and are not used for their preparation. unhealthy fat. They help the body eliminate unnecessary substances.

What sweets are not allowed if you have high cholesterol?

Glucose has no direct effect on cholesterol levels.

Often in products where it is in large quantities, there is a high concentration of harmful fats. Negative influence have LDL, which is found in most confectionery products.

They can raise the level of the substance, because each sweet is prepared with eggs, milk - animal fats.

When prescribing a diet, doctors take this into account and ask to exclude some sweets from the diet.

These include:

cookie;
cakes;
biscuit;
cake;
cream;
cream;
meringue;
bakery;
waffles;
candies;
sweet carbonated water;

It is recommended that before consuming dessert, you carefully study the composition of the product. There may be ingredients that are harmful to health. In treatment it is very important to adhere to proper nutrition, because more than half of the success depends on it.

Having eliminated the harmful, you need to replace it with the necessary. Sweets can also be healthy and not affect blood vessels, heart and figure. In addition, they are quite tasty and are not inferior to products with traditional trans fats.

The diet should be selected based on the characteristics, since the selected products may not be suitable for many. Therefore, only a specialist can handle this task.

Recommended sweets for high cholesterol

There are many sweets that are not harmful to the body. They have a natural base without a drop of fat. The taste is absolutely not inferior to store-bought fatty products. These are products of plant origin.

Moreover, almost all permitted sweets are very healthy and can improve the health of the body.

These, for example, include honey. It is an essential product for people with high cholesterol. In addition, it has a lot useful properties, which help even with illnesses, increase immunity and tone up. It is also very tasty, so it can satisfy any gastronomic preference. It contains fructose, sucrose, vitamins B, E, minerals.

A huge advantage is the variety of tastes, because depending on the harvesting period there are different shades of aroma.

Another must-have product on the table should be. It should be consumed only in reasonable quantities. It is worth remembering that such products are high in calories. Jams and preserves help stimulate work gastrointestinal tract, contain fiber and remove excess cholesterol from the body. Their main advantage is that they do not contain fat.

Marshmallow. This sweet is one of the most popular among the people. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to eat marshmallows with high cholesterol worries many. The answer is unequivocal - yes. Pastilles are also a healthy alternative to cakes and cookies, and they are also much tastier. The ingredients for their preparation are absolutely safe for health, and the thickeners for them are cholesterol-removing substances. Another advantage is that they are able to cleanse blood vessels and contain vitamins and microelements that promote better functioning of the body. Its benefits are proven by more than one positive review.

Halva is also on the list of permitted products. It contains many vitamins and microelements that promote improved blood circulation. Nuts and seeds help remove low-density lipoproteins from the body.

Chocolate (black). Only the bitter type of chocolate is healthy in small quantities. It is rich in natural antioxidants that slow down the aging process and thin the blood. The cooking technology does not involve the use of animal fats. The ingredients can prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

A useful dose is 100 grams per week. IN more will not do any good.

Products allowed in limited quantities

There is often debate about the benefits and harms, as well as the effect of marmalade on cholesterol. The technology for preparing the product is almost identical to marshmallows and marshmallows, so it is not only not harmful, but also beneficial for the body. Apart from sugar, thickeners, and fruit base, practically nothing is used. This makes the product completely safe. Sucking candies have equal properties.

The lollipops are made without using any fats. One piece of candy won't do any harm, but overuse may affect your figure. Girls are especially vulnerable.

Popsicles can also be classified as permitted products, but you can limit yourself to one or two servings. And microelements and vitamins will tone the body.

There are also foods that are useful for consumption, but in very small quantities:

Sherbet.
Nougat.
Kozinaki.
Turkish Delight.

They will not only lower dangerous cholesterol, but will also benefit the body. It is not recommended to take a lot of these sweets, because they can be harmful due to their calorie content. And this already carries with it obesity, and as a result, problems with blood vessels and the heart.

Therefore, you need to consume foods in moderation and not focus on sweet foods.

Diet for high cholesterol

Eating only special sweets will not bring significant results unless you approach this issue comprehensively.

You need to completely change your diet. It is important to remember that good nutrition is an important basis for successful treatment.

Increased levels of unhealthy fats in the body due to harmful products, smoking, alcohol abuse, passive lifestyle, heredity, age, constant stress.

For a complete cure, you need to exclude from the diet:

smoked products;
meat fatty varieties, salo;
sauces, mayonnaise, ketchup;
instant food products;
fast food;
confectionery;
semi-finished products;
sodas, fruit drinks, juices with a high glucose content;
alcohol;
flour.

You should also stop smoking and start playing sports. Physical activity has a beneficial effect on the body in general and blood vessels in particular. Excluding foods from your diet will not be a challenge if you find them useful alternative. It is recommended to include in the diet:

Fish.
Seafood.
Dairy products with low content fat
Fruits.
Vegetables.
Lean meats.
Egg whites.
Vegetable soups and broths.
Green tea.
Nuts.
Coarse bread.
Flax seeds.
Olive oil.
Oatmeal and bran.
Onion and garlic.

The main principle is to consume no more than 100 grams of meat per day. In this case, it should be boiled or baked. You should forget about roasting. You also need to eat at least 4 times a day. Portions should be small, but a person should eat often.

The principle of fractional nutrition will help you get rid of not only fat, but also excess weight. The recommended volume of a single meal should not be more than 150-200 grams. You can also drink herbal infusions that help the body. These include: motherwort, buckthorn, mint, rose hips, corn silk, hawthorn.

There is an opinion that alcohol and cholesterol treatment are incompatible. Experts say that it is not a large number of high-quality alcohol will only have a positive effect. This also applies to combined use with medications.

How to eat with high cholesterol and diabetes is described in the video in this article.

CHISINAU, July 25 – Sputnik. It is impossible to say unequivocally that all sweets are harmful, says endocrinologist, nutritionist, candidate of medical sciences Ekaterina Alexandrova.

“If, for example, a person is overweight or has diabetes, then, of course, any sweets with sugar or fructose are not very good, but such people can use sweets with natural sweeteners,” she said.

According to the expert, these include Jerusalem artichoke syrup and agave syrup.

“There are chemical sweeteners, they are also now often used to make sweets, and, in principle, they will not cause harm in terms of increasing sugar levels - they are also not high in calories. But in themselves they are not very good for human body, such delicacies cannot be called useful,” explained Alexandrova, quoted by RIA Novosti.

The expert warns that greatest number harmful substances are found in sweets created specifically for children.

"Manufacturers attract children with the help of chemical dyes, which make it possible to create bright color. These are various dragees, caramels of all colors of the rainbow, there are a lot of unnecessary, unnatural ingredients. That is, this pure sugar And harmful additives. At the same time, children eat them uncontrollably. This is definitely not healthy,” the expert emphasized. Also, according to her, various waffles and cookies are not healthy; they are usually made with margarine.

“This is a carbohydrate fat bomb mixed with trans fats, which greatly disrupt the body’s metabolism,” explained the agency’s interlocutor.

CANDY CULT

Alexandrova also drew attention to the fact that for children, sweets often become a cult.

“We form eating habits in childhood, so if a child gets used to the fact that it’s normal to eat sweets all the time, then he will grow up with this attitude,” she said.

The expert emphasized that if a child is prone to obesity or diabetes mellitus, then excess sweets will provoke disease. “Then, when he is forced to adjust his weight, it will be very difficult due to habit to adjust or refuse it,” she added.

“I would like to draw the attention of parents to the fact that the child does not need sweets at all. They should be kept out of sight, there is no need to buy them, there is no need to make a cult out of them. “for this,” the expert advises.

Dietician, Associate Professor of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition of the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Candidate of Medical Sciences Elena Chedia also recalled that every fifth child in Europe suffers from excess weight and Russia is gradually approaching these indicators.

"Children's nutrition needs to be paid Special attention, and sweets are an additional source of easily digestible energy. If a child cannot spend all the energy he receives, then naturally it is stored in fats,” the expert said. She also emphasized that taste habits it is necessary to educate from childhood so that there are no problems in adulthood.

“For example, some adults eat in stressful situations; such habits often come from childhood. If a child is healthy, he can eat sweets, but everything is good in moderation,” she concluded.

SWEET ANTIDEPRESSANTS

Chedia also noted that older people should also have restrictions, since age changes hormonal background, metabolism slows down, a person spends significantly less energy. As a result, excess energy obtained from food is converted into fats.

In turn, Alexandrova adds that “every year we must adjust the diet towards reducing calorie content, primarily by reducing high-calorie foods, first of all, it is sweet, and we must artificially increase energy expenditure - increase physical activity, which will not allow weight to increase, despite the changing metabolism.

At the same time, Alexandrova does not encourage older people to completely give up treats.

“Still, sweets are an antidepressant. With age, people, unfortunately, become more prone to sadness, melancholy and even depression. In this situation, sweets in small quantities support the mood - such a small joy from the few joys that a person has left.” , says the agency’s interlocutor.

“As a rule, older people love to drink tea with sweets; for them it is a daily ritual. When relatives begin to take that last wafer out of their mouths, it is always a great pity, because they are depriving the elderly of joy,” Alexandrova is sure.

She added that if a person does not have diabetes with high sugar levels, if he is not overweight, which causes joint problems, then there should be no prohibitions. However, sweets must be of high quality and natural.

HEALTHY SWEETS AND SEARCHING FOR REPLACEMENTS

Chedia said that sweets containing refined carbohydrates, which are cleared of fiber, are absorbed very quickly, require a sufficient release of insulin and create problems for people with overweight due to the delivery of excess “energy” to the body, which is stored in fats. Therefore, it is better to eat natural sweets - carbohydrates from them are absorbed more slowly, there is less load on the pancreas, there is no increase in insulin in the blood, which promotes the synthesis of fat and inhibits its breakdown.

"What's happened natural sweets? For example, you can eat beets, or you can eat sugar from beets, you can eat an apple, or you can drink juice - carbohydrates from an apple are absorbed 11 times slower than from juice made from this apple, and, naturally, in the second case a greater load is created on the pancreas, a large release of insulin with all the ensuing consequences,” she said.

Alexandrova also agrees that if a person does not have weight problems or carbohydrate metabolism disorders, then sweets in small quantities are quite acceptable. According to the expert, marmalade and marshmallows made on the basis of natural ingredients: juice-based, apple-based, using a natural thickener such as agar-agar. She added that in apple marshmallow a large amount of vitamins, apple fiber, pectin and all this is very useful.

Chedia also confirmed that pastilles, marshmallows, and marmalade are better than caramel and flour, because these products contain pectin substances, alimentary fiber.

She said that there is a common misconception regarding chocolate - that eating dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate makes the diet less nutritious.

"What is chocolate? This is cocoa butter, fat. If the chocolate is sweet, milky, then part of the fat is replaced with milk, carbohydrates, and carbohydrates - one gram - 4 kilocalories, and one gram of fat - 9 kilocalories, so, naturally, milk chocolate less calorie than bitter,” she said.

Alexandrova also noted that quality chocolate does not have to be bitter unless the person is lactose intolerant.

“The question is that you shouldn’t eat it in bars, because it’s extremely high in calories. And eating 20-30 g of chocolate a day is even healthy,” she said.

The expert suggested alternatives to sweets, such as dried fruits, nuts, including sugared ones, and honey.

Alexandrova also said that most overweight people or people with diabetes are absolutely not addicted to sweets, at least not any more than other people.

“You need to understand that diabetes does not arise from the abuse of sweets. This is a big misconception. Well, for example, a person with high sugar levels says at an appointment that he doesn’t eat sweets, but it immediately turns out that he eats a lot of potatoes, pasta, cereals, and this the same carbohydrates. The question is not in sweets, the question is in the total amount of carbohydrates. A person can eat only sweets, if he is not genetically determined to develop diabetes, then he will not have it,” she said.

The expert also noted that various diets based on eating sweets, such as chocolate, are not beneficial for the body due to an insufficient amount of essential vitamins and microelements.

In this article, I will tell you when you can eat sweets and in what quantities so that everything is fine :)

What is sugar?

Sugar is a simple carbohydrate, energy (carbohydrate) in pure form, which is very quickly absorbed.

How is it harmful?

Sugar = not harmful, its excess (excessive amount) is harmful.

If you eat a lot of sweets (sugar) every day = then a large amount of INSULIN is produced as a result. For those who don't know, insulin is produced (in healthy people) own pancreas. So, provided there is an excess of sugar (sweets) = the pancreas works under heavy load. In this situation, long time, the pancreas can simply deplete (break), like a part in a car, and hello type 2 diabetes, and who knows, maybe from type 2 it will turn into type 1 diabetes (the most complex, insulin-dependent).

In addition, sweets, sugar, as I already said, are also simple carbohydrates (energy in their pure form), and this, in turn, is a lot of calories. And who doesn’t know, people gain excess weight, fat, get fat, increase weight due to the fact that they consume (enter) MORE of those same CALORIES than they expend (waste). This is the so-called excess caloric intake, which increases body weight...

And from obesity, excess weight, fat = just an incredible bunch of serious health problems - which should not be allowed if you want to look normal, live normally, and enjoy life.

Unfortunately, most people do not notice how much sugar they consume, and do not even realize, cannot even imagine, what danger such a “sweet life” threatens for them.

In life we are surrounded by a lot of temptations, especially in food, which lie in wait for us at almost every corner/step, but this is not an excuse, most people, unfortunately, due to their weakness, do not even notice how much sugar they consume , sweets, etc. junk food, and they don’t even realize what danger such a “sweet life” poses for them.

Strong personalities, unlike weak ones, control and manage their lives, even incl. eating (absorption) of food, and I’m not just talking about sweets (sugar), but in general. Have this in mind.

First. If there are sweets = then give preference to HEALTHY SWEETS (rather than harmful ones).

The absolute majority of people use unhealthy sweets and in vain, because the beneficial ones, unlike the harmful ones, contain vitamins and microelements, and not just empty calories.

Second.

Consume sweets (sugar) in small quantities (dosages) (avoid excess).

Third. Which is the answer to the topic of the article. Consume healthy sweets in small dosages (without excess) and attention, only in the FIRST HALF of the DAY (before 15.00). Ideal intervals are in the morning, and if there are no conflicts on goals, after strength training in the gym. After 15.00 - there is a high probability that excess fat will accumulate, due to the fact that people are usually passive in the evening, as a result, the energy received from sweets will not be “wasted”, as a result Negative consequences

in the form of fat accumulation = health problems. And during the day, people are usually ACTIVE, so energy will be “wasted” due to “activity.”