For most families, bagel tends to be the traditional breakfast. But as delicious as it may taste, is a bagel with cream cheese healthy to consume? Well, the answer is yes. Taking bagels with cream cheese comes with some health benefits which I will discuss in this article.
However, If you find yourself a lover of Cream cheese bagels, then you should know that Cream cheese contains a great number of calories in the form of saturated sugar and fat which if consumed in excess is harmful.
This article highlights the benefits and side effects of Cream Cheese Bagels and how you can eat bagels the right way to enjoy their health benefits.
SEE: How Much Whipped Cream Cheese Equals Regular Cream Cheese?
Overview of Bagels
A bagel is a type of bread shaped like a doughnut and is mostly characterized by a crisp, shiny crust and a dense, chewy interior. It is shaped into a round ring and is boiled before baking.
The first step in making a bagel is to cook it in water for a minute or two, this step ensures its flavor sticks to it. The bagel is further cooked in the oven to create that hard and delectable crust we all love. This allows the bagel to possess a thick and fluffy roll with a crispy shell or casing.
A Bagel contains about 250g of calories, and Cream cheese contains another 100g as well, which is about 350g and a lot of calories to be eaten in just one sitting.
What are the Ingredients Used in Making Bagels?
- Instant Yeast
- Dark brown sugar
- One and a half cups of water
- Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Baking soda (2 teaspoons)
- Corn Meal (about half cups)
- Flour (for dusting)
- Other optional Ingredients such as Cream cheese and Smoked salmon.
How is Bagel Different from Bread?
There isn’t much difference between bagels and bread as all bagels are bread, but not all bread is bagels. Bagels are also baked, but they are boiled first. What makes them unique is their shape. They also have a firm and chewy texture, unlike bread which is foam-like.
SEE: Delicious Dishes You Can Make With Cornbread Leftovers
What are the Health Benefits of Cream Cheese Bagels?
Some Bagels are made with refined wheat flour, which has high amounts of calories but is low in nutrients. On the other hand, some are made with whole wheat flour, which can provide a variety of nutrients and has other health benefits such as;
1. High Source of Fiber, Vitamins, and Minerals
Cream cheese Bagels contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals that can help maintain a healthy blood sugar level and helps in digestion.
2. Source of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are present in Cream cheese Bagels, and antioxidants help in removing and reversing damages done by oxidizing organisms in your body’s cells.
3. Lowered Risk of Heart Disease
Cheese cream Bagels produced from whole grain flours help prevent heart diseases but remember to limit your amount intake.
SEE: Does Cream Cheese Go Bad?
What are the Side Effects of Cream Cheese Bagels?
Even though Bagels with Cream cheese are a normal healthy diet, there can be adverse side effects to eating it in excess, such as;
1. Too Many Calories
According to the National Institution of Health, the size of Bagel has increased to double over the past 20 years. Most sizes of Bagels have since been made wider, and the wider the Bagel, the more calories inside them. Over consumption of calories may lead to unhealthy weight gain.
2. High Amount of Fat
Cream Cheese Bagels are full of fat, which may lead to obesity and fatigue.
3. Low Amount of Protein
Protein has many health benefits for the body; it helps repair and rebuild body tissues. Cream Cheese Bagels have a very low amount of proteins in them.
4. Exposure to Type 2 Diabetes
Due to the large concentration of sugar in the Bagel and Cream cheese, it is not ideal to consume it in large quantities as it may cause type 2 diabetes.
SEE: What Does Cream Cheese Taste Like?
Fun Facts About Bagels
- According to the USDA, 1 Bagel contains about 250g of calories.
- Whole grain Bagels offer more nutrients than Bagels made with refined wheat.
- In Germany, Bagels mean bangles which is ironic as Bagels share the same shape as bangles.
Is Cheese Cream Healthy?
Cream cheese is healthy, and it is a great source of Vitamin A. It is also low on lactose and a good source of antioxidants. However, high consumption may have some adverse effects on your health, such as clogged arteries due to excess fat and calories.
SEE: Easy Guide to Help You Freeze Your Cream Cheese
FAQs
Is a bagel with cream cheese healthier than a donut?
While Donuts have their benefits, Donut is lower in fiber and even higher in fat than Bagel. Therefore, a bagel with cream cheese is healthier.
How can you make your Bagel healthier?
You can try using a thin bagel to reduce the fat and sugar level in the Bagel. You can also consider using avocado and almond butter spread to balance your diet.
SEE: If Dunkin Donuts Bagels Are Healthy
Which exercise can burn calories?
One of the most effective calorie-burning exercises is running. If you run for 30 minutes, you burn up to about 300 calories.
How many bagels should you eat in a day?
It is safer and smarter to eat only half a bagel a day and save the other half for another day’s breakfast.
Conclusion: Is a Bagel With Cream Cheese Healthy?
Eating a bagel with cream cheese is healthy and it is a filling and satisfying breakfast to start your day. But it is ideal to choose a low-fat or fat-free topping for your Bagel to reduce the amount of fat taken overall in a sitting.
While there are benefits to consuming Cream cheese, it lacks some much-needed nutrients and is also very rich in fat. So, it is best to consume reasonably or moderately.
Have half a Bagel for one day a week and store the other half for another day or week. You can as well have some pretentious meals alongside it to keep your nutrients balanced and to leave you satisfied and healthy enough.
Do you wonder if Bagel is a vegan food or not? Read this article that discussed all you need to know about bagels vegan.
I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for reading.
