3 Reasons Processed Pastries Are Bad for Your Health

You might feel very good after eating processed pastries, but don’t be fooled. This bliss is only short-lived. However, the detrimental health outcomes can be long term. If your go-to breakfast is a muffin, croissant, or scone, for example, you increase your chance of developing a range of preventable lifestyle diseases.

In the case of processed pastries, the issue isn’t necessarily that it contains sugar or carbs. The main problem is that these two ingredients are heavily processed. That’s why health education is important. It’s only when you’re armed with correct information that you’ll know to swap white bread flour for wholewheat flour or opt for fresh blueberries instead of a blueberry muffin.

Processed pastries served on the table.

Why Are Processed Pastries Bad for Your Health?

You might love processed pastries, but your heart doesn’t. After all, eating fresh strawberries is much healthier than a strawberry jam doughnut. Fresh always triumphs over artificial ingredients. Plus, what it lacks in nutritional value, it “makes up” for in sugar, carbs, and fats as well as they are packed with artificial ingredients. Unfortunately, it’s these three ingredients that are the main reason why you can’t have your cake every day and eat it too.

1. Refined sugar

Refined sugar has received a lot of bad press over the last few years, and rightfully so. When consumed regularly, it can potentially lead to many health issues. In addition to being linked with type 2 diabetes, it can also cause excess belly fat (not to mention obesity), and heart disease.

Here’s the thing about sugar. You get loads of calories, but zero essential nutrients.

Sure, sugar is also found in fruits and veggies. However, when consumed like this in its natural form, your body also gets its daily supply of nutrients.

It’s when it’s refined or even heavily refined and added to baked goods that it becomes no good.

2. Refined carbs in processed pastries

Your body needs carbs, and you can enjoy them regularly without too much guilt. However, similarly to sugar, you’ll need to draw a distinction between unrefined and refined sources of carbohydrates.

Foods like whole grains, fruit, vegetables, and beans can offer health benefits like helping to control your blood sugar. It can also be a great source of essential minerals and vitamins, while its high source of fiber will help you to feel fuller for longer and contribute to your gut health.

However, when you refine it, you rid it of these potential benefits. Plus, as your body can digest it faster in this form, you could experience rapid spikes in blood sugar. These changes in blood sugar levels can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

3. Unhealthy fats

Your croissant isn’t called a butter croissant for no reason. Saturated fat, the kind found in butter, increases your bad cholesterol and chances of developing heart disease. Aside from heart disease, diets high in unhealthy fats have also been linked to stroke and type 2 diabetes.

And, your butter croissant isn’t the only item to avoid. There are many other processed pastries that are high in saturated fats like your doughnuts, tea biscuits, and birthday cake.

This article is for educational and informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. For any questions about your own health condition, speak to a qualified physician or healthcare provider.