The doctor urged not to lean on cakes after fasting

A sudden shift from a lean diet to high-calorie treats by Easter can be stressful for the body. This was announced on Tuesday, April 15, by the endocrinologist "Polyclinic.<url>" Natalia Shvedova in conversation with "Газета.Ru ".

"A lean menu is usually low in fats and sugars. Therefore, excessive consumption of traditional cakes with creams, glazes and chocolate can be a test for the pancreas," she said.

The expert noted that this is especially true for diabetics, people with excess weight and heart problems. As an argument, she cited studies according to which excess sugar increases inflammatory processes and promotes oxidative stress.

According to the doctor, you can replace hearty cakes with cottage cheese and pastries with natural sweeteners such as stevia or erythritol. In addition, it is worth referring to recipes with fruit additives.

One of the key principles of proper nutrition is compliance with the regime, the specialist reminded. So, the interlocutor of the publication urged to avoid large gaps between meals, so as not to cause a strong desire to eat something sweet.

As Shvedova pointed out, the ideal option is to eat every four hours, necessarily including protein products (poultry, fish, cottage cheese), dietary fiber (vegetables, greens) and complex carbohydrates (buckwheat, quinoa) in the diet. She also advised eating a protein dish with vegetables before eating dessert to prevent a sharp rise in blood glucose levels.

The endocrinologist also clarified that it is equally important to control the portion size. A standard piece of cake weighing 100 g contains about 300-400 kcal and up to 30 g of sugar, Shvedova said. In this regard, it is better for those who monitor their health to limit themselves to one or two small slices, provided that the rest of the diet is balanced.

For people with diabetes or overweight, the doctor recommended eating no more than 50 grams, combining dessert with protein.

"The good news is that eggs are no longer considered harmful, on the contrary. According to a 2020 meta-analysis, eating up to two eggs a day does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and even improves the lipid profile," the expert noted.

As for the ingredients for making the cake, the doctor called for replacing some of the wheat flour with whole grain or oatmeal, and sugar with fruit puree.

Holy Week in 2025: how to fast and behave

On April 14, Orthodox Christians begin six days of the strictest fasting.

The day before, on April 14, the press service of Roskachestvo told about the signs of poor quality of the cake. Each cake must have a label with mandatory information about the name of the product and manufacturer, the legal and actual address of production, composition and nutritional value. The presence of a Single Mark of Reference on the Market (EAC) confirms the safety of products, the agency recalled.