Are sweets and pickles a healthy food?

Asinan or sweets are of course often a family snack. This food really spoils the tongue with its sweet, salty and sour taste. Although many people love them because of their addictive taste, are sweets and pickles a healthy food? Come on, find out the answer in the following review.

What are sweets and pickles?

Sweets and pickles are foods that are very popular with Indonesians. Sweets are usually made from fruits that have been soaked for a long time in sugar water. Meanwhile, pickles are processed from various types of vegetables and fruit soaked in a solution of vinegar and salt.

The addition of sugar or vinegar and salt to food is not only intended to improve the taste, but also to preserve it so that it lasts longer.

A solution of sugar or vinegar and salt reduces the water content in fruits and vegetables. The low water content in the fruit is what can inhibit microbial growth so that food does not spoil quickly.

So, are sweets and pickles healthy food?

Source: BP Giude

Sweets are included in the food group that is high in sugar, which must be limited in order to keep the body healthy. Although sugar is needed by the body as energy to carry out activities, this type of food can cause health problems later in life.

Reporting from the Mayo Clinic, there are several reasons why foods high in sugar are not good for health, including:

Sweets are lower in nutritional content than fresh fruit
If consumed in large quantities, can increase the risk of being overweight (obesity)
The high sugar content allows bacteria in the teeth to thrive, increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Additionally, sweets tend to have a high glycemic index. That means, these foods will be converted into glucose very quickly so that the blood sugar levels in the body will spike rapidly.

In effect, insulin, a hormone that is responsible for converting glucose into energy, will work harder. This condition if it continues can increase the risk of diabetes.

Compared to the benefits, sweets have more of a bad impact on health so they are not considered healthy foods. So, if sweets are not a healthy food, what about pickles?

Soaked pickles in a salt or vinegar solution do provide minerals, such as sodium and potassium. This mineral is useful for maintaining electrolyte balance as well as nerve and muscle health.

Healthy or not depending on how much of this food is consumed. Too often consuming acidic and salty foods is certainly not good for blood pressure, dental health and digestion. If you have GERD (acid reflux into the esophagus), these foods may trigger symptoms.

Healthy tips for eating sweets and pickles

To stay healthy, consumption of foods such as sweets or pickles should not be excessive. If you want to enjoy sweets consider how much sugary food you ate that day.

In addition, pay attention to the timing of eating sweets, for example not consumed at bedtime or after eating other foods that are high in calories. Meanwhile, pickles should not be consumed when digestive conditions are not healthy. Its sour taste can worsen your digestive problems.

Even though sweets are made from fruit, it would be better if you consume more fresh fruit. Likewise with the pickled fruits and vegetables. Apart from being tastier and not too sweet, sour, or salty, the nutritional content is still complete. Of course the benefits you will get far more.