Sweet Tooth Solutions
Are Valentine’s Day treats threatening your New Year’s resolutions for eating better? It happens to the best of us. But sugar is our health nemesis triggering increased blood sugar, inflammation and altering our immunity. Even with dessert, we can learn to love the foods that love us back. Unfortunately, refined sugars and flours don’t love us at all. However, it’s a lot easier than you think to make better after-dinner choices. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Pineapple and Papaya Fruit Salad
Pineapple contains bromelain and papaya contains papain; both are proteolytic enzymes meaning they help breakdown proteins and can help with digestion. As a whole we want to decrease our consumption of refined sugars. Eating fruit for dessert help us satisfy our sweet tooth, increase our fiber consumption, and in this case may give us a little boost with our digestion. See recipe below.
2. Dark chocolate
Yep, I just gave permission to indulge in chocolate. Dark chocolate that is as least 70% or higher cocoa is rich in anti-oxidants such as polyphenols and has been associated with heart-health. Dark chocolate is often dairy free and has less sugar that its cousin, milk chocolate. Enjoy an ounce or two after a meal. Remember to take time to consume it mindfully, savoring its flavor.
Like an after-dinner mint, a cup of herbal peppermint tea is a satisfying finish to a delicious meal. Peppermint has been long been attributed with many benefits like relaxation and improved indigestion, but may be just the ticket to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Try this simple fruit salad recipe to help you think outside the pastry and ice cream box for your after-dinner treats.
Tropical Pineapple and Papaya Salad
Both fresh pineapple and papaya contain active enzymes that help breakdown proteins. Rich in fiber and anti-oxidants, try eating this salad as a sweet finish to your meal.
Author: Erica Leazenby, MD
Serves: appx. 6 1-cup portions
Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 small pineapple, cut into bite-size cubes
1 small papaya, cut into bite-size cubes
1 cup blueberries
Coconut whipped cream (optional)
2 tablespoons Toasted coconut (optional)
Mint leaves (optional)
Directions:
Combine pineapple, papaya and blueberries in a medium bowl. Divide the salad into small serving bowls and garnish with coconut whipped cream, mint and toasted coconut as desired.
For additional sweet tooth taming stratagies read here:
Prepare Yourself for Sugar Season
Tips To Make Your Holiday Cookies More Healthy