Oftentimes, nothing is more comforting or satisfying than a sweet dessert after a fulfilling meal. Some choices, however, are more beneficial in the long run for your overall health, and can actually aid your weight loss journey. With that said, we reached out to health experts, dietitians and nutritionists to share which common dessert they think is most imperative to avoid for weight loss, and one seems to stick out overtime for several reasons. Read on for tips, insight and suggestions on what to avoid for healthy weight loss, from Sara Chatfield, registered dietitian and nutritionist at Healthcanal and Jay Cowin, NNCP, RNT, RNC, CHN, CSNA, registered nutritionist and Director of Formulations at ASYSTEM.
How Donuts Hinder Weight Loss & Lead To Disease
While no one expects donuts to be the optimal dessert choice when you’re trying to lose weight, experts stress that their other cons are far too serious to ignore if eaten often. “While donuts are a tasty treat, they’re best consumed occasionally and not as a regular breakfast or dessert,” Chatfield explains, as they are extremely high in sugar. “Eating too much sugar can lead your body to produce too much insulin, causing inflammation,” she notes. “Excess sugar can also contribute to premature aging through a process called glycation, in which sugars link to proteins to form advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which have been linked to chronic disease development and skin aging,” she says.
Additionally, you’re probably already aware that “donuts are high in calories,” but Chatfield says that people over 40 or 50 should especially avoid this treat, as when we age, “our metabolism declines so consuming ‘extras’ high in calories can easily lead to weight gain.” Donuts in particular often “contain saturated fats that can lead to inflammation and increase your risk of heart disease.” They’re also “highly processed,” she says, and “eating highly processed foods regularly can cause weight gain and has been linked to multiple chronic diseases,” which is all the more serious.
Other Health Risks That May Arise
If you regularly consume donuts (whether to start your day or end it as a dessert), Cowin says that this treat can wreck havoc specifically on aging health. “While donuts may seem like a tasty treat, it's important to be aware of the potential health risks they pose when eaten regularly,” he advises. “There are many reasons why people over 50 should be careful when consuming a lot of donuts,” Cowin continues. “As we age, our bodies become less efficient at processing sugar. This means that if we eat foods high in sugar, like donuts, we are more likely to see a spike in our blood sugar levels.” Over time, he notes, this can lead to weight gain and an increased risk for diabetes.
In addition, the “deep frying of donuts can create unhealthy trans fats,” which can raise cholesterol levels and contribute to heart disease. And finally, Cowin adds, the fillings in donuts (such as chocolate or cream) “could also contribute to health problems such as tooth decay, which can be more prevalent in older adults.” Yikes! Most importantly, Cowin concludes, donuts are not very filling, so people may end up eating more than they intended. “Finally, donuts are not very nutrient-rich, so they may not provide people with the energy and nutrients to get through the day,” he says.
