Baking Ingredients Calories

Common baking ingredients include high-calorie foods like wheat flour, butter, and sugar. The nutritional value of baked goods tends to be low because these ingredients provide mostly fats and simple carbohydrates, which can contribute to rapid fluctuations in blood sugar level and increased body weight. However, some baking ingredients including eggs can be very nutritious since they contain good proteins and nutrients like choline and lutein. Other items common in baking, like cinnamon and yeast, are used in such a small amount that the calories are negligible, but these flavorings and leavening agents offer unique health benefits. Although the calorie chart shows they add little in the way of energy, common spices are known to have anti-inflammatory, weight loss, and disease-fighting properties, and baker’s yeast contains nutrients like B-complex vitamins, zinc, and potassium. Low-calorie or calorie-free baking ingredients also include artificial sweeteners or sugar replacers, for example sucralose and stevia. Research has shown that chemical sweeteners can be harmful to one’s health and can worsen sugar cravings; therefore, these should be consumed minimally. Check nutrition labels on pre-made cake mixes and other packaged baking ingredients to ensure they fit into your diet.