Donuts?
Richard Hollerman
Most of us have seen the signs along the major city streets that advertise Donuts and perhaps other “food” (?) items. Some of us have probably indulged in these forms of food while some may eat donuts on a regular basis. What is it with you? Are you one who stops by the store to pick up a half dozen donuts in the morning as you are on your way to work?
Probably few people consider the donut to be a healthy and nutritious food but they enjoy the taste and texture thus they indulge. But is this something that the Christian should eat?
One article points this out:
FOR many years fat was known as the number one diet enemy. In more recent years it has been sugar that has been demonised as the devil when it comes to Western society’s burgeoning obesity epidemic. But there is actually one thing worse than either fat or sugar — that’s fat and refined carbohydrates combined.
And it’s a mix that is found in many of our most popular foods including ice cream, chocolate, cakes and yes — doughnuts.
(https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/diet/why-doughnuts-are-so-bad-for-us/news-story/0f7599ab590c968c452cfd1362804cd2)
The same article goes on to refer to not only donuts but other junk food:
It is also explains why the complex food concoctions human beings have developed in the form of ice cream filled with lollies, pastries filled with sugars and fast food loaded with fats, processed carbs and salts have had a profound effect on the types of foods human beings crave and overeat.
So, while we often isolate the carbohydrate sugar, we also need to remember that refined carbohydrates and processed starches can be just as damaging to cellular metabolism. For this reason, processed potato and snack foods cannot be forgotten when it comes to the potentially damaging effects of processed carbohydrates.
So before you rush out and ban all sugar from your diet, it may be more pertinent to pay more attention to these baddies — the most energy-dense foods many of us indulge in far too often. (Ibid)
Another article also points out the health-destroying effects of the common donut:
That doughnuts are not good for you shouldn’t be a surprise. However, doughnuts are worse than many other snacks in the market. A small bag of chips has about 260 calories, and a small bag of cookies can have anywhere from 50 to 200 calories each, depending on the type, size and brand. In comparison, a single doughnut can easily contain more than 300 calories. Add to that lots of sugar, fats and other unhealthy ingredients, and doughnuts can wreak havoc on your health.
(https://www.livestrong.com/article/471877-health-effects-of-doughnuts/)
We may wonder why donuts (and foods like donuts) are so detrimental to one’s health. Another article points out some of the effects:
When you’re in the mood to treat yourself, nothing sounds better than indulging in some doughnuts. Whether you like yours from Dunkin’ Donuts or prefer an artisan creation, most people are blind to the negative effects these sweet treats have on our bodies. In fact, health experts say that they’re one of the worst things for you! Here’s why you should pick another snack next time you’re craving something sweet:
- They’re loaded with calories
Depending on the type of doughnut you’re enjoying, a single doughnut can contain at least 300 calories!
- They can lead to weight gain
“Even a single doughnut a day can lead to significant weight gain over time. If you add a doughnut a day to your regular diet and don’t exercise the calories off or cut down on calories elsewhere, you will gain about one extra pound every 10 days,” according to Tammy Dray from Livestrong.
- There’s a lot of sugar in them, too!
Not only are doughnuts high in calories, but they also contain an alarming amount of sugar, too! “Even the plain doughnuts are high in sugar,” says Dray. A single doughnut also contains more than half of the recommended daily sugar intake for women. Yikes!
- Overconsuming them can lead to blood sugar issues
Overeating doughnuts on a regular basis can lead to problems with your blood sugar, including having erratic glucose levels and experiencing energy crashes.
- They’re lacking in nutrients
Just because they have a fruit filling doesn’t mean that they have the same nutrients as fruit! Doughnuts are made with white flour and sugar, making them a highly refined and processed food.
- Doughnuts have lot of sodium?
You wouldn’t think that doughnuts were made with salt, right? But most flavors call for a hefty amount of sodium. Between the salt used in the frosting and the cake itself, you could be looking at 135-150 milligrams of sodium at least!
- They have a lot of fat, too!
Most doughnuts contain at least 10-25 grams of fat, most of which is made up of saturated and trans fat. This is one of the many reasons why eating doughnuts can cause weight gain and lead to heart damage.
- They’re rarely served fresh
Unless you’re ordering them bright and early when they’re fresh from the oven, most doughnut chains serve doughnuts that have been sitting out all day. “In some places, the donuts are made in a big centralized kitchen and trucked to the different outlets, in which case they are not fresh…Fresh made donuts only stay fresh for a few hours and believe me, you do not want to eat a donut that is been sitting on a racks,” according to Fitnea.
- They’re not made with fresh ingredients either!
“If [doughnuts] are made fresh onsite, the cooking process is another problem. At most of the famous donut chains, the oil is only changed once every 2 weeks,” according to Fitnea. Ew!
(”9 Reasons Why You Should Never eat Doughnuts, Like, Ever.” ttps://www.shefinds.com/collections/never-eat-doughuts-unhealthy-bad-for-you/#slide-1)
One of the popular companies that produce this form of food is Dunkin’ Donuts. Here are their comments:
Dunkin’ Powdered Doughnuts
Dunkin’ Donuts powdered doughnuts are cakes coated in powdered sugar. In one such doughnut, you can expect 340 calories, with 200 of them coming from fat. There are 22 g of fat, with 10 g being saturated fat. They also have 25 mg of cholesterol, 300 mg of sodium and 38 g of carbohydrates. Powdered doughnuts also contain 13 g of sugar and 4 g of protein, along with 4 percent of suggested daily values of vitamin A, 2 percent of calcium and 6 percent of iron.
Dunkin’ Chocolate Doughnuts
Dunkin’ Donuts chocolate frosted doughnuts have 370 calories, of which 210 come from fat. They also have 23 g of fat, of which 10 g are saturated, 25 mg of cholesterol and 320 mg of sodium. Frosted doughnuts have 45 g of carbohydrates, 1 g of fiber, 20 g of sugar and 4 g of protein. They also contain a 4 percent daily value of vitamin A, 2 percent calcium and 8 percent iron.
What do you think? Is this a non-food “food” that is fit for the Christian to eat?
Another popular brand would be
Krispy Kreme chocolate doughnuts contain 270 calories, of which 120 are from fat, totaling 13 g of fat and 3 g of saturated fat. They have 20 g of cholesterol, 320 mg of sodium and 36 g of carbohydrates. The powdered version has less than 1 g of fiber, along with 20 g of sugar and 3 g of protein. There are no vitamins and minerals, according to the nutrition label.
Krispy Kreme Powdered Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme powdered doughnuts contain 260 calories. Of those, 120 come from fat — 13 grams of it, of which 3 g are from saturated fat. They also have 20 mg of cholesterol, 320 mg of sodium, 33 g of carbohydrates and less that 1 g of protein. They also have 15 g of sugar, 3 g of protein and no vitamins or minerals listed.
(livestrong.com/article/284165-the-nutritional-value-of-doughnuts/)
Again, we fail to see much nutritional benefit to this sort of food. We find something that is high in saturated fat, sodium, and calories.
A Christian Looks at Donuts and other “Junk” Foods
In light of this cursory look at a couple of the leading brands of donuts (or doughnuts), what should the Christian think? Consider these facts:
First, would Jesus eat such “non-food” food? Can anyone imagine our Lord regularly consuming this dangerous food? Scripture plainly says that the one who says “he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). If Jesus wouldn’t eat this form of “junk food,” should we?
Second, is it wise to waste one’s money to buy this form of food? We definitely are to use our money in a wise way but most of our readers would acknowledge that this food would be a foolish choice in light of the limited amount of money we all have.
Third, as Christians, we are to be good examples to the world around us. Paul writes that “in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). The apostle also writes to Titus: “In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified” (Titus 2:7). Would buying and eating this junk food really be a wise, discerning, and true example before others?
Fourth, Scripture says, “You have been bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). We also read, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (10:31). In light of the fact that we don’t own our body but God does and the fact that we are do all to the glory of God, should we really indulge in this junk food?
Fifth, we have seen enough about donuts to be convinced that this food is not really nutritious. It doesn’t contribute to our health. And it actually harms the body that God has given to us. We are to be responsible to God in the way that we use our body. If we knowingly hurt our body by consuming what we know will be detrimental to our health, can we plead ignorance? As James writes, “To one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin” (4:17).
Many other considerations could be given to show that eating this non-food “food” would really be a poor choice. In fact, it would be a destructive, harmful, and foolish choice. It is much better to choose our food in a way that we will glorify God and honor Him. As you think about what we have learned here, ask yourself whether there are other forms of food that are detrimental to your health as well.
In light of this, we challenge you to change your eating habits. Begin to eat as Jesus would eat. This is the only responsible decision to make.