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Health & Fitness

Why I Don't Eat Doughnuts

My own story why I don't eat doughnuts and the negative health affects they have on our bodies!

I get strange looks from people when I turn down the offer of a doughnut. I don’t eat them. I cannot honestly say the last time I have eaten one. It’s easily been 20+ years.  Those little circles of joy are just something that I cannot stomach, literally.

Not to say I have NEVER eaten one. I grew up in a neighborhood that had a “Mister Donut.” I remember being 9 or 10 and riding up there on my bike for one of their famous, “Donut on a Stick”. Seriously, that is what it was called. (Mind you this is approximately 1984 and anything food-wise on a stick was pretty cool!)

But when you are that young, you don’t pay attention too much to how food affects your body. I lived in North Carolina for one year back in the late 90’s and Krispy Kreme’s were on every corner and therefore in everyone’s home and office. I remember how just the SMELL from that place would make me nauseated. I never ate one of those deep fried, conveyor belt beauties which were a staple of southern living.

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When I came back to Pittsburgh, apparently Krispy Kreme had grown so popular that it made its way across the Mason Dixon line.  I was offered a doughnut from a drive through run with some family members and politely declined, as I normally did. They kept insisting on how good they were and how I didn’t know what I was missing. So, I relented and gave into familial peer pressure. I took a piece, no joke, which was probably 2 square inches in size. Miniscule.

And I regretted it for HOURS.

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My digestive system went bonkers. I could “taste” that teeny piece for what seemed like days. Yuck…I get the willies just thinking about it.

But, that is just ONE reason I don’t eat them. There are many, many more.

Sugar

Around half of the carbohydrate content in a doughnut comes from sugars. A large serving can contain around 22 grams of it. Generally, the average person should get no more than 45 grams of sugar per day -- or just two doughnuts. Sugary foods play a role in tooth decay and overall mouth health. Sugar feeds the bacteria that produce mouth acid, promoting acid erosion on teeth. Very high-sugar diets are also linked with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Lack of Nutrients

Doughnuts are made of white flour, a simple carbohydrate. On top of that, they contain lots of sugar. This makes them a highly refined, highly processed product. Refined carbs contain close to no fiber, an essential nutrient present in whole grain and other natural, healthy foods. Fiber is essential to keep you regular, but it can also help prevent colon cancer, help lower cholesterol and control blood sugar levels.

Trans Fats

Trans fats are linked to multiple health problems, most related to the heart and blood circulation. Trans fats increase your blood levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. This in turn causes blocked arteries and inflammation over time. No nutrition guidelines state a daily maximum for trans fat intake, but the safest option is to avoid trans fats altogether. Most doughnuts contain trans fat. For example, a serving of a doughnut could contain as much as 6.6 grams of trans fats, according to Penn State University.

Weight Gain

Even a single doughnut a day can lead to significant weight gain over time. A Krispy Kreme raspberry-filled jam doughnut contains 300 calories, while a chocolate iced doughnut contains 350 calories. According to website Family Doctor, 3,500 calories equal 1 lb. If you add a doughnut a day to your regular diet and don't exercise the calories off, you will gain about one extra pound every 10 days.

And, because I am all about health and wellness, I want you to be aware of what you are putting into your body the next time you are tempted to pick up one of those pretty looking pastries. J


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/530359-negative-health-effects-of-doughnuts/#ixzz2Ey1LM2Ze

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/471877-health-effects-of-doughnuts/#ixzz2Ey3xEA90

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