Healthy Ways to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
By Donna Stark
You feed yourself food every day, but do you feed yourself health? That's a great question to ask because eating a "diet of health" is vital for each and every one of us. And one of the best ways to do so is to reduce the amount of sugar you eat on a daily basis. Now, does that mean you have to eliminate all the sweet treats from your diet? No, it doesn't! But it does mean you should choose some items over others. Read on to learn more on how to choose and enjoy those sweet bites of goodness.
Treat Yourself With Healthy Sweets
Did you know that all sugars are not the same? If you are dealing with a health condition that is easily impacted by sugar, It's important to know the difference between the sweets that quickly raise your blood sugar levels and the sweets that have less of an impact on your body. Here are some great suggestions on healthy choices to make.
- Whole fruits - Whole fruits are filled with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and will raise your blood sugar levels more slowly than sugar. Grab an apple, a peach, or a banana on your way out the door in the morning.
- Greek yogurt - Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, minerals, and essential bone-building nutrients. Try some with sliced berries and granola on top.
- Dark chocolate - Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, and when taken in moderation, can also be very beneficial to the health of your heart. Get cooking in the kitchen by making your very own frozen, dark chocolate banana bites.
Eliminate the Unhealthy Sweets
Once you have decided to eat more healthy sweets, you have to commit to eating less unhealthy ones. That means you should reduce, or eliminate, the cookies, cakes, brownies, ice cream sundaes, candy, pies, and donuts from your diet since they are all made with ingredients you can really do without, such as white flour, sugar, and other forms of sweeteners. Because, in addition to encouraging weight gain, those forms of sweets can also worsen your pre-existing health conditions.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
If you still want to enjoy a cookie here or there, or a piece of birthday cake when your special day rolls around, do so in moderation. Remember, your body does not need those empty calories and sugar, but it does need all the nutrition that comes from healthier alternatives, so choose wisely! You got this!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lubbock, Tex.