Benefits of dessert in the diet

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Extract from the article: Many people think of dessert as a simple sweet treat. This misperception conceals the benefits that well-chosen desserts can bring. Including a healthy dessert option at the end of a meal contributes to daily nutritional balance.

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Many people think of dessert as a simple sweet treat. This misperception conceals the benefits that well-chosen desserts can bring. Including a healthy dessert option at the end of a meal contributes to daily nutritional balance.

The term “dessert” often conjures up images of high-sugar preparations, but it encompasses a variety of foods with diverse nutritional profiles. A healthy dessert can be fresh fruit, natural yoghurt, or a combination of both.

Yogurts

Obtained by lactic fermentation, yoghurts are desserts rich in probiotics, bacteria beneficial to the intestinal flora. A study by Wilkins and Sequoia (2017), in “American Family Physician”, points out that their regular consumption is associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal disorders and the prevention of diarrhea. These micro-organisms also improve the course of inflammatory bowel pathologies.

Fruit

Eating fruit as a dessert is beneficial at any time of day. Research published in 2004 in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition highlighted the link between the polyphenol content of fruit and a reduction in systemic inflammation. Fruits rich in soluble fibers, such as apples, containing pectin, promote better intestinal health by ensuring good intestinal transit. Fruits are also rich in vitamins and minerals, and contain large quantities of water, which helps the body function properly by protecting cells from free-radical damage, preventing disease, maintaining the immune system and acid-base balance, and improving concentration.

The importance of dessert in the diet

Including a healthy dessert after a meal is not a trivial act. It contributes to various essential aspects of diet and health.

Complementary nutrients: Desserts provide nutrients that complement those found in main courses. For example, dairy products provide protein, cocoa provides magnesium, and fruit and wholegrain cereals provide fiber. Choosing a variety of desserts helps to enrich the diet with different essential nutrients.

Improved nutrient absorption : Eating certain desserts enhances nutrient absorption. Fruit, rich in vitamins, plays an important role in the body's absorption of iron. Including fruit as a dessert optimizes the benefits of other foods consumed during the meal.

Contribution to a balanced diet: Dessert is an integral part of a balanced diet. Neglecting this part of the meal, or always settling for sweets and processed foods, can compromise the efforts made during the main courses. Opting for healthy desserts as part of a more complete diet is beneficial for long-term health.

Esther KOLANI

Article validated by Tabago Dissirama, nutrition and food safety engineer at the Nutritional Recovery Unit at CHU Sylvanus Olympio (Lomé)