With the Easter holiday just around the corner, the season for bun and cheese has returned, and this beloved combo poses some surprising health benefits.

Jamaican buns are usually made from gluten-free flour, baking powder, flax seeds, dried fruits, molasses, salt, spices, sugar, almond milk and sunflower oil.

In part two of Our Today‘s Health Benefits: Easter Edition, we share with you several things you stand to gain from bun consumption.

Bun providing health benefits? Yes, surprising, but true! Whether it is an Easter bun, or the buns available all year round, they provide the same benefits.

Health Benefits

Fuels brain

Carbohydrates more popularly referred to as carbs, are nutrients many tend to shy away from in fear of weight gain. Although carbs contribute to weight gain, they are an essential part of a balanced diet.

Carbs help to ensure the brain functions properly. The body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, which is then used to fuel brain activity. Although proteins are broken down into glycogen, which can also be used as fuel for the brain, they are not as efficient as carbs.

Helps the body absorb vitamins

Jamaican buns usually contain around 20 per cent of fat. The fat found in these buns is able to help the body absorb vitamins A, D and E.

Vitamins A, D and E are fat soluble. This means that they can only be absorbed with the help of fats.

Provides Energy

Fats, found in the bun, are also able to provide the body with energy. When fats get to the intestine, they are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.

These fatty acid chains are then converted into energy via the beta-oxidation process. Sugar found in buns also provides energy. Sugar supplies energy to the muscles, brain and nervous system.

May lower risk of cardiac diseases

Although removing carbs from the diet may be useful with weight loss or blood pressure in the short term, long-term effects are not as attractive.

Carb intake is able to lower one’s risk of contracting cardiac diseases. A study showed that long-term effects of removing carbs from the diet are linked with an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer.

Repairs muscles and bones

Although buns do not contain a significant amount of protein, the protein found in this pastry is able to assist with the building and repairing of muscles and bones.

Protein also helps the body to make hormones and enzymes.

Improves muscle mass

Carbohydrates are important in building muscles. If you wish to gain muscle mass, having your fair share of carbs is an important part of the diet.

Carbs, which are converted to glycogen (a form of energy) and stored in muscles, help to give you power during your workout sessions.

READ MORE: Easter Edition: Health benefits of cheese (Part I)