Why do the bad foods always taste the best? Why? What sense does that make??
Anyway, there are a few foods deemed “bad” that might not be so “bad” after all, but hey, moderation is key!
Here are 9 of them:
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is high in fat, but that doesn’t mean it’s fattening. (Gaining or losing weight, and body fat, basically comes down to balancing calories.) That said, peanut butter is a concentrated source of calories, so you don’t want to go overboard. But you don’t need to eat tons to feel satisfied: just a tablespoon (90 calories) or two of peanut butter goes a long way. Plus, peanut butter provides protein and folate, a B vitamin important for the healthy development of new cells.
Eggs
Medical experts now emphasize that saturated fats and trans fats are bigger culprits in raising blood cholesterol than dietary cholesterol is. Plus, eggs are super-satisfying: in one study, people who ate a scrambled-egg-and-toast breakfast felt more satisfied, and ate less at lunch, than they did when they ate a bagel that had the same number of calories. Egg yolks contain lutein and zeaxanthin, compounds that research links with reduced risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.
Beef
Lean cuts of beef are a low-fat source of protein and iron, a mineral essential for getting oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body — and one many women (of childbearing age) are deficient in. There are many lean cuts of steaks: filet mignon, sirloin, strip steak, flank steak. If you can’t remember the names, pick steaks that are deep red with a relatively small amount of marbling — a fancy name for fat — to find lean cuts.
Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains flavanols, antioxidants that seem to have a blood-thinning effect, which can benefit cardiovascular health. And, recently, researchers in Switzerland reported that eating dark chocolate (1.4 ounces of it) every day for two weeks reduced stress hormones, including cortisol, in highly stressed people. But be sure to account for the calories (1.4 ounces delivers 235) — or you may be stressed to see extra pounds creeping on.
Potatoes
Potatoes are a good source of fiber, potassium and vitamin C. And unless you’re eating an absolutely plain potato all by itself, its GI value doesn’t matter. (It’s also worth noting that the glycemic index is an imperfect and controversial scale.) A high-GI potato becomes a low-GI meal if you simply add a little olive oil, because the added fat helps slow the absorption of the potato’s carbohydrates.
Coffee
Studies show that compounds in coffee — including but not limited to caffeine — may reduce the risk of dementia, diabetes and liver cancer. Most benefits are associated with drinking two to four (8-ounce) cups a day. That said, coffee can make some people jittery — and if this is true for you, you should cut back. You should also limit caffeine if you’re pregnant — the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises no more than two cups a day while expecting — or nursing.
Nuts
Nuts are full of fats — but they’re the good, heart-healthy unsaturated kinds. Nuts, and peanuts, which are technically legumes, also deliver other healthy nutrients — which ones depends on the nut. For example, pistachios are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants that help keep eyes healthy. Almonds provide vitamin E and walnuts offer significant amounts of heart-healthy omega-3 fats. You do need to keep an eye on serving size, though: at around 160 to 200 calories per ounce, nuts do pack a substantial amount of calories.
Bread
Bread isn’t bad — eating too many refined grains is, and that’s why the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend making at least half of the grains you consume whole grains. Switching to 100 percent whole-wheat bread, or other whole-grain breads, is one way to do that. And good news: research in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who eat more whole grains may live longer.
Corn
Corn, while not as nutrient-packed as, say, berries, is nutritious: it contains 4 grams of fiber per one cup of kernels, or about one large ear. Like most other yellow and green vegetables, corn is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin.
We can’t express how happy we are that bread, potatoes, and eggs are on that list.
And like we said, it’s mostly about moderation — but it’s great to hear that they have health perks as well!
Eat up!
[Image via AP Images.]
