If you're feeling guilty about overindulging during the holiday season, we have good news. Many ingredients in baked goods actually have positive nutritional benefits.
A humorous study published in a medical journal last week BMJ We investigated holiday recipes from the popular baking show The Great British Bake Off (known in the US as The Great British Baking Show) and showed how ingredients such as fruit and nuts can have health benefits. Ta. In other words, if you want to enjoy your Christmas dessert while being careful about your health, it's okay to have your cake and eat it too.
The study's authors acknowledged that it was all done for fun, but lead author Joshua Wallach, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, said: CNN The science was sound.
“There's definitely an element of silliness, but methodologically it's still a rigorous study,” Wallach said.
What makes a recipe “healthy”?
Researchers looked at 48 different Christmas recipes from 'The Great British Bake Off' website and identified 17 main ingredient groups found in those recipes. Several of these ingredient groups were associated with a lower risk of death or illness, including fruits, nuts, and coffee. But some other substances, such as alcohol and sugar, have also been found to increase the risk.
The study cites several specific recipes as examples and determines which recipes are better to serve during the holidays based on whether the ingredients are associated with negative health risks. I pointed it out. For example, researchers found that the majority of ingredient groups in Prue Leith's Chocolate Yule Log contributed to negative health concerns.
“We are not convinced that this dessert enhances the 'festive mood' as it is not appropriate to 'subtly' mix alcohol, which increases the risk of developing liver cancer, with desserts served to family and friends,” the study said. they wrote. .
Meanwhile, the majority of the ingredient groups in Paul Hollywood's Stollen Wreath were associated with health benefits, thanks to ingredients such as almonds, milk, and dried fruit.
“Overall, this dessert without eggs, butter, or sugar is essentially a fruit salad with nuts,” the authors joked. “Hmm!”
So, are desserts good for you?
The study noted that desserts have been an integral part of Christmas celebrations since the Middle Ages, when the Catholic Church declared that puddings should be made in the weeks leading up to the holiday. But those medieval puddings were very different and much healthier than the ones we enjoy today, as they were rich in fruit, nuts, whole grains, and even meat.
The bottom line is that some ingredients in today's baked goods are associated with a reduced risk of disease, while others have been found to increase that risk. Basically, most desserts have both “good” and “bad” parts, and Wallach said the most important takeaway from this study is to enjoy everything in moderation.
“Overall, we wanted to provide evidence that people should eat and eat Christmas desserts,” the study authors wrote. “At least we'll have evidence of our collective gluttony and guilt this Christmas holiday.”
