Drug Medical Information

WEIGHT CONTROL: SWEETS

What about desserts, sweets (candies), jams, etc. ? Many, such as those containing cream and chocolate (especially milk chocolate) are for special occasions only. Ordinary ice-creams contain a lot of saturated fat; eat them rarely. Fresh fruit is one obvious way to round off a meal. Unless you are a diabetic or are overweight you can eat fruit or drink fruit juice freely. Fruit desserts which can be served hot include baked apples and grilled grapefruit.

Cold desserts include water-ices (sorbets), desserts with a gelatin base (gelatin can also sometimes be used instead of cream in a recipe) and fools made with low-fat yoghurt. Barley sugar and other boiled sweets, marshmallows and marzipan, wine gums and hard peppermints have little or no saturated fat.

You can eat jams, honey and preserves - and sugar itself in moderate amounts, unless you are obese or have diabetes. There is little reason to link sugar-containing foods with heart attack. But there is good reason to enjoy these foods in moderation: obesity and dental decay are the dangers. Get used to less sugar in tea and coffee, and less on cereals. Eat sweets and chocolates less often.

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