Experts say the best dessert to eat if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease

Keeping your body healthy doesn’t mean you have to give up dessert altogether! While there are certainly plenty of sweet desserts to skip, there are also some great options that are as delicious as they are healthy. Choosing nutritious desserts can be a great way to satisfy your cravings and keep you healthy. In fact, there are some sweet treats that can even help keep your heart healthy, including a delicious option that’s perfect for fall.

To discover one of the best desserts that can do wonders for your heart health and reduce your risk of disease, we spoke to health expert Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, professor of nutrition at Boston University. He told us this Baked apples with cinnamon and a dollop of Greek yogurt It is a satisfying and healthy option. Read on to learn more about this guilt-free treat.

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Baked apples with cinnamon and Greek yogurt

“Baked apples with cinnamon and a Greek vanilla yogurt is a dessert that will delight both your palate and your heart,” Dr. Blake assures us. All of the ingredients in this simple recipe work together to add not only great flavor, but health benefits as well.

For starters, apples are a wonderful fruit, naturally sweet and high in fiber. Apples are rich in viscous soluble fiber, which has been shown to help lower blood cholesterol levels, says Dr. Blake. Keeping your cholesterol low is an important part of reducing your risk of heart disease, and adding the right foods to your diet is a great way to do that.

As Blake explains, viscous soluble fiber like the kind found in apples can prevent the reabsorption of high-cholesterol bile acids released by the gallbladder to help the intestines digest fat. “Your body replaces these lost bile acids by removing cholesterol from the blood to produce new bile acids in the liver. As a result, your blood cholesterol levels decrease.”

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By adding cinnamon to these fibrous fruits, you can take both the flavor and health benefits a step further. Cinnamon adds a natural sweetness, so you don’t need to add added sugar to the apples before baking. A diet rich in added sugars also increases the risk of heart disease. Additionally, cinnamon has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which is another important benefit for your overall health, including heart health.

Craving something creamy to go with your baked apples? Skip the ice cream and go straight for Greek yogurt instead. It’s a high-protein, probiotic-rich treat that’s packed with health benefits. In addition to keeping the gut happy and balanced, it may also help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

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It’s important to remember that reducing your risk of disease and living the healthiest life possible is more than just eating a healthy dessert. It takes a lot of healthy habits over time. However, your diet is one of the most important aspects to consider. By skipping sugary treats and choosing healthy alternatives like these on a regular basis, you’re taking a big step in the right direction.