It is no secret that desserts make people happy.
Everyone loves to enjoy a sweet -- or savory!-- treat that will instantly boost their mood and make them feel better. Ice cream seems to be one of the most enjoyed treats in the nation, considering that 40% of Americans will eat ice cream at least once in a two week period, a number that’s just below our nation’s coffee consumption. Plus, an additional 40% of consumers surveyed say that they eat desserts after a meal at least twice a week, so you’re far from alone when you indulge every once in a while!
Do you ever felt guilty for eating that slice of chocolate cake, thatice creamsundae, or that peach cobbler, though? Don’t worry. Here are five reasons why desserts make people happy, so you won’t feel remorseful with every bite.
1. It puts you in a good mood.Believe it or not, researchers have found that eating chocolate, which is the number one most craved food in America, causes the brain to release endorphins. These hormones make you feel better almost immediately, so go take a bite of that candy bar if you are feeling down and under the weather.
2. Real sugar is better than fake sugar.If you are going to splurge for a dessert, you should choose one that contains real sugar instead of artificial sweeteners.These artificial sweeteners are put in many desserts under the false pretense that they are healthier for you. The chemicals in these additives can lead to health risks down the line. In fact, for 12 days, scientists researched the long term effects of sugar in comparison to aspartame, an artificial sweetener. They found that table sugar -- sucralose, an artificial sweetener -- reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in the body.
3. It is good for your heart.A 10-year study conducted on 37,000 Swedish men proves that chocolate can actually be great for you. The men in the study, aged 45 to 79 years and without any cardiovascular disease, were found to be 17% less likely to suffer a stroke once if they ate dark chocolate regularly, compared to those who didn’t.
4. Lowers your blood pressureAnother cardiovascular benefit of eating dark chocolate is that it lowers blood pressure. So go ahead, have two pieces!
5. They are a good rewardGiven the fact that 78% of consumers say they are more likely to eat a sweet dessert when they want to reward themselves, dessert offers an easy, mid-week pick-me-up. An additional 60% say they order dessert because they are feeling happy, so if you want your mood to last, you might as well order two desserts!
The next time that you need an excuse to eat that dessert you are craving, think of these ideas for a guilt-free treat!
Tim is the CEO and people builder of FrozenDessertSupplies.com. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family, collecting watches, and Classic Mini Coopers.
FAQs
Eating sweets quickly goes from the stomach to the bloodstream and then to the brain, where it causes a surge in dopamine. Dopamine is the hormone that causes feelings of happiness, excitement, and joy. It's one of the same hormones released after exercise or when you're enjoying time with someone you love.
How does dessert make you feel why? ›
They elevate your mood
This is because desserts, specifically the sugar in the desserts, causes your brain to release endorphins such as serotonin. These hormones are responsible for making you feel happy, cheerful and calm.
What is a short note on frozen dessert with example? ›
A frozen dessert is a type of food that is typically cold and sweet. It can be made from various ingredients, such as fruits, cream, and chocolate. Frozen desserts are usually served as a dessert or snack. There are many different types of frozen desserts, such as ice cream, sorbet, gelato and sherbet.
What are 5 common desserts? ›
Top 10 Types of Desserts
- Cakes. Perhaps the most popular dessert of all time, cake contains a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, butter or oil, leavening agents (such as yeast or baking powder), and sometimes milk or water. ...
- Cookies. ...
- Biscuits. ...
- Pastries. ...
- Candies. ...
- Custards and Puddings. ...
- Deep-fried. ...
- Frozen.
Before her several year stint at The French Laundry and the opening of her own sweet venture, Platine Cookies, Jamie Cantor was taught at the Culinary Institute of America to build a dessert menu around the five C's: chocolate, citrus, coffee, cheese and caramel.
Why do sweets make people happy? ›
Sugar leads to direct stimulation of the brain by triggering the release of dopamine, the “feel good” neurotransmitter. In fact, sugar's effect on the brain resembles that of highly addictive drugs like cocaine. This may explain why you crave something sweet (cookies, ice cream, etc.)
Why do people enjoy desserts? ›
Foods that stimulate the reward system in your brain, like sugar and other foods that spike your blood sugar, can lead to cravings. Foods that are hyperpalatable (those that are sweet, salty, creamy and easy to eat) can also trigger hormones that contribute to cravings—such as insulin, dopamine, ghrelin and leptin.
Does cake make you happy? ›
Cake also has symbolic associations with joy, celebration and comfort that can enhance our emotional state. Cake boosts our brain power. Cake contains carbohydrates that provide glucose to our brain cells.
What is dessert in 5 sentences? ›
Examples from Collins dictionaries
She had homemade ice cream for dessert. I am partial to desserts that combine fresh fruit with fine pastry. They ordered pavlova for dessert. For dessert he ordered chocolate cake.
What is the oldest frozen dessert? ›
The next evolution in icy-sweet concepts was faloodeh, a sorbet made of cooked vermicelli noodles frozen in a syrup of sugar and rose water, finished with a squeeze of lime juice. One of the world's earliest known frozen desserts, this ancient treat is still a summertime favorite in Iran today.
Frozen Desserts can certainly be enjoyed as an occasional treat as part of a responsibly delicious balanced diet and active lifestyle. It is important to highlight that Kwality Wall's products follow strict nutrition benchmarks laid out by Unilever.
What are the 4 major types of desserts? ›
These are some major categories in which desserts can be placed.
- Cakes.
- Puddings.
- Small cakes and pastries.
- Confection.
- Mithai (sweets)
- Custards.
- Deep-fried.
- Frozen.
There are a wide variety of desserts in western cultures, including cakes, cookies, biscuits, gelatins, pastries, ice creams, pies, puddings, and candies. Fruit is also commonly found in dessert courses because of its natural sweetness.
What is classic frozen desserts? ›
They may be based on flavored water (shave ice, ice pops, sorbet, snow cones), on fruit purées (such as sorbet), on milk and cream (most ice creams, sundae, sherbet), on custard (frozen custard and some ice creams), on mousse (semifreddo), and others.
