Where would we be without them, our beloved sweets? They cheer us up, comfort us, and simply add a touch of joy and pleasure to tea time. But you have to choose them carefully so that the pleasure doesn’t turn into a sad story.

The most important thing, which I mention in almost every article I write, is to check the product you are buying for palm oil and only buy biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, sweets, chocolate, or ice cream if this dangerous type of oil is not included in the ingredients. This alone will protect you from additional unnecessary risks.

And less of all kinds of “E numbers” and more natural ingredients — for example, let the ingredients include regular sugar instead of its chemical substitute, and let the color of the product not be too suspiciously bright. Calm, natural tones will let you know that the delicacy you are choosing does not contain any scary rainbow-colored dyes — which is also a big plus.

Here’s why I prefer dark chocolate to milk chocolate, for example. The lower the percentage of cocoa in chocolate, the more chemical additives, fillers, and sweeteners it contains. For example, 85% chocolate contains 85% cocoa and only 15% additives. In the same milk chocolate bar, only 30% of the main beneficial ingredient is present, while various emulsifiers and other additives make up as much as 70%. The conclusions are obvious, aren’t they?

When it comes to jam or marmalade — which, unlike in Ukraine, practically no one makes at home — it is preferable to use pectin rather than gelatin, as pectin, like agar-agar, is much healthier. Pectin is extracted from fruit (usually apples or citrus fruits), agar-agar from seaweed, and gelatin from ground bones and tendons of slaughtered animals. Doesn’t sound very appetizing, does it? Well, draw your own conclusions.

In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again that sweets are an important part of our daily lives, and we can and should enjoy them. If you remember my recommendations today when buying sweets and follow them, even if only occasionally, you will be taking a big step towards health, strength, and longevity.