Cakes are a delicious dessert which provides a good amount of nutrition. They are a good source of carbohydrates, protein, and minerals that have several health benefits.
They provide an energy boost to the body. Besides, they are a great source of fats that are good for the heart and blood vessels.
Carbohydrates & Fats
Carbohydrates are one of the three main macronutrients that our bodies need to function properly. Along with protein and fat, carbohydrates provide energy for our cells, tissues, and organs.
They also help our body regulate blood sugar levels. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose, which is the main source of energy for your cells and tissues. The glucose is then transported to the cells and stored in the liver or muscles for use later.
There are many different types of carbohydrates, including sugars, starches, and complex carbs. While some of these types of carbs can lead to weight gain and other health problems, others are important for our overall wellbeing.
Simple carbohydrates (or sugars) are the ones that you will find in cakes, biscuits, pies, and juice. They are usually found in foods that are sweeter and are more likely to contain processed sugars like white sugar, brown sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and agave nectar.
In a healthy balanced diet, carbohydrates should make up between 45 and 65 percent of your daily calorie intake. They should come from a variety of sources, including unrefined whole grains such as bread, rice, and cereals; fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and other non-starchy carbohydrates.
A healthy diet should be low in refined or processed carbs, and high in complex carbs. These include whole grain breads, rice, and cereals; fruits, legumes, and vegetables; and dairy products such as milk and yoghurt.
Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly than simple carbs and tend to increase your blood sugar more gradually and less rapidly. They are also more satiating and may aid with weight loss and improve your mood and energy levels.
Refined carbs, on the other hand, are highly processed and stripped of fiber, bran, and nutrients. They are fast to digest and cause unhealthy spikes in blood sugar levels, a buildup of belly fat, and other health problems.
The best type of carbohydrate is the complex variety, which contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These are the kinds of carbs that can prevent heart disease, improve your mental and physical health, and boost your energy level.
Proteins
Proteins play an important role in cake nutrition by providing structure, flavor and texture. For example, egg proteins help bind all the other ingredients together to form a smooth batter and provide texture. Likewise, milk proteins called caseins coagulate to make yogurt thick and supple.
Other functional properties of proteins include emulsifying, foaming, clumping, enhancing textural characteristics and increasing water retention. They also contribute to the appearance of a finished product by adding color through a process called hemagglutination.
Besides being an essential part of a balanced diet, proteins are important to our bodies’ functions. They are vital for muscle growth and repair, and they help keep our bones strong by forming bone marrow.
They are also critical for nerve function, helping our brains send and receive messages. They play a major role in preventing cancer and heart disease.
A good rule of thumb is that most cakes contain between 9 and 10% protein. The rest of your recipe’s content should be a mix of fat, carbohydrates and a leavening agent.
The best way to make a good protein-packed cake is to use the right combination of ingredients. Start with high-quality gluten-free flour and add protein powder as needed to get the most out of your recipe. Then, go the extra mile by including a healthy dose of protein-packed superfoods such as almond butter, cottage cheese and nuts. Lastly, add in some fat to boost the protein factor and help keep your cake moist. It’s the smart way to go!
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential nutrients needed by the body for a wide range of functions. They promote healthy living and help maintain normal functioning of the immune system, liver, kidneys, skin and eyes.
Some vitamins are fat-soluble, while others are water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed through the digestive tract and sent to storage in the liver and fat cells, while water-soluble ones are released from the body into the bloodstream, where they are immediately available for use by the body.
One of the most common fat-soluble vitamins is Vitamin A, which has a variety of health benefits. This antioxidant helps protect against sun damage and reduces the risk of skin cancer. It also has anti-inflammatory and immune system effects.
The daily needs for Vitamin A can be met through foods rich in this nutrient. Eggs, milk, cheese, dark green leafy vegetables and apricots are some of the best sources of this vitamin.
This nutrient is important for the production of red blood cells, nerve impulse transmission and synthesis of nucleic acids in the body. It also plays an important role in the clotting of blood and in maintaining bone health, preventing osteoporosis.
Other B vitamins include Vitamin B-1, which helps convert carbohydrates into energy. It also acts as a cofactor for the metabolism of fats and other substances, such as protein.
Moreover, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure. The vitamin also helps regulate glucose levels in the blood.
A deficiency of this nutrient can lead to anemia, fatigue and weak bones. It can be found in foods such as eggs, fish, poultry, beans and milk products.
Another B vitamin is Vitamin B-3, which promotes a healthy nervous system and adrenal gland function. It also increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood and assists the liver in metabolizing toxic compounds.
This nutrient can be found in many foods including milk, eggs, nuts and wheat germ. It is particularly important for the growth and development of babies, but it also has beneficial effects on aging and can help to reduce memory decline in older adults. It is also important for the prevention of some types of cancer and helps to reduce the risk of asthma.
Minerals
Minerals are the elements in food that our bodies need to function properly. They help our body build proteins, maintain bone and teeth health, control blood pressure and heart rate, regulate a variety of other physiologic functions, and keep our cells functioning.
There are seven essential minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. These nutrients are found in many different foods, including milk and dairy products, meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, and beans.
Calcium is a mineral that helps the body build and keep bones strong. It also promotes healthy blood clotting and muscle contraction. You can get enough calcium from eating a well-balanced diet that includes foods such as dairy, leafy green vegetables, and some canned fish.
Potassium is a nutrient that helps the heart work properly, muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and blood pressure regulation. It also promotes digestive health and water balance in the body. Most people get enough potassium from a balanced diet.
Sodium is an important electrolyte that our body uses for various functions, such as controlling the electrical activity of the heart and other muscles. High levels of sodium can cause swelling in the extremities and raise blood pressure. Having too much sodium can also increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Copper is a trace mineral that helps regulate a number of physiologic processes, including iron metabolism, protein synthesis, and connective tissue maturation. It also helps protect the immune system, lower stress, and improve blood flow. You can find copper in some foods such as red meat, poultry, seafood, nuts, dried fruit, and copper-containing herbs.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that promotes healthy immune function and reduces the effects of free radicals in the body. It’s also known to improve skin and eyesight.
Magnesium is a mineral that helps the body store energy. It also helps regulate muscle function, and controls the pH of the body’s cells. It’s found in certain foods such as whole grains, broccoli, cauliflower, avocados, nuts, seeds, and some fruits and vegetables.
These vitamins and minerals are the ones that make a cake nutritious. To find out which recipes are most rich in them, we analysed a range of popular cakes, from carrot cake to hummingbird cake.