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Top 10 Healthy Foods You Thought Were Bad for You

BuThe science of nutrition is always evolving as our level of knowledge and understanding grows, and yesterday’s dietary villain can become today’s super-food. Understandably, it can be hard to keep up with the latest advice from nutritionists. Check out this list of the top 10 healthy foods that you thought were bad for you.

Chocolate

Chocolate has long been viewed as a guilty treat that is delicious to eat but terrible for your health. Today dark chocolate provides individuals with several positive health benefits. Research shows that individuals who regularly eat chocolate have a lower body mass than those who don’t eat chocolate.

Chocolate is a highly nutritious snack that is high in fiber, iron, magnesium, and copper.  It also provides a powerful dose of antioxidants. Chocolate lovers will benefit from increased circulation and lower blood pressure.

Coffee

In the past, people viewed coffee as a stimulant that could cause addiction and result in a number of negative health consequences for regular drinkers. Researchers now know drinking coffee will not increase your risk for cardiovascular disease or cancer.

As one of the top 10 healthy foods you thought were bad for you, drinking coffee has many positive benefits including a lower risk for type 2 diabetes, a lower risk for certain cancers and improved memory. Coffee drinkers also enjoy increased energy levels and better moods. The Food and Drug Administration updated its guidelines in 2016 to say that three to five cups of coffee consumed daily poses no threat of harm. And, for many people, the main source of antioxidants in their diet comes from coffee.

Eggs

Eggs were once vilified as a high-fat food that caused problems with cholesterol levels. But current research has proven eggs to be a powerful source of nutrition. While eggs may possibly cause cholesterol levels to rise a little, this is countered by the vitamin and mineral content present in eggs. Eggs are a common breakfast food you can enjoy scrambled, fried or boiled. Some creative ways to enjoy eggs are as a pizza topping, on a hamburger or in a salad.

When purchasing eggs, you should seek eggs that are grown by local farmers. These eggs contain more nutrition and contain less cholesterol than commercially grown eggs.  While there are many factors that affect the price of local eggs, they’ve become commoditized enough that they should be able to fit most budgets most of the time.

Peanut Butter

For the longest time, we have been told that peanut butter is a high-calorie, fatty food choice that should not be part of a regular diet. But many health experts have changed their tune regarding peanut butter, and it made our list of one of the top 10 healthy foods once thought as bad for you.  In fact, one study suggests peanut butter consumption can lower risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Peanut butter is high in protein and provides other important nutrients to the body. This fact makes peanut butter a staple food for many bodybuilders. The fatty acids in peanut butter provide a boost to heart health. Another benefit of peanut butter is protection from benign breast disease, which is a risk factor for breast cancer.

Potatoes

Many people believe potatoes are a source of empty carbohydrates with no significant nutritional value, but that’s not the case. The vitamin C content of potatoes alone is reason enough to include potatoes as a regular part of your diet. One medium-sized potato provides you with half the daily recommended amount of vitamin C.

Potatoes contain a good amount of folate and vitamin B. The minerals potassium, iron, and magnesium are also plentiful in potatoes.  Potatoes contain no sodium, cholesterol or fat.

Popcorn

Popcorn can be extremely healthy or unhealthy depending on a few variables. The popcorn that’s commonly found in movie theaters, cooked in oil and then saturated with artificial butter is an unhealthy food choice. However, popcorn that is air-popped is one of the healthiest food choices possible when no unhealthy toppings are added to it.

 

Many people are unaware that popcorn is a whole grain food product. This means popcorn can help decrease inflammation in the body and the risk of heart disease. Popcorn is high in vitamins B1, B3 and B6. You can also benefit from its potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus content when you eat popcorn.

Avocados

The image of avocados was once tarnished by the high amount of fat they possess. But, now it’s understood that the fat content in avocados is composed of good fat. Studies have demonstrated the ability of avocados to improve vascular health, lower bad cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation. Delicious avocados are also loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil was once frowned upon by dieticians due to the high saturated fat content it possesses. However, coconut oil is now praised for its positive benefits to health. While it’s still not a good idea to consume too much saturated fat, coconut oil has shown the ability to increase good cholesterol levels. Coconut oil also contains a good supply of antioxidants.

Red Meat


We’ve all heard the warnings that consuming red meat is linked with serious illness and disease. However, studies conducted in recent years show no direct link between eating red meat and a shortened life span. The key, as it is with most things in life, is moderation. Individuals who eat less than 70 grams of red meat per day can reasonably expect to experience no negative health consequences from doing so.

Nuts

We were once told that nuts should only be eaten on occasion due to their high-fat content. However, the fat contained in nuts is the kind that has proven beneficial to the heart. The different nuts available to eat offer their own unique health benefits. For instance, almond skins are filled with flavonoids, which provide protection against heart disease.

 

We’re constantly being provided with new information about nutrition. Because of this, it is sometimes difficult to stay up to date with the foods that are healthy to eat. This list of 10 healthy foods that were once thought to be bad for you should provide you with a great head start. But if you’re interested in changing the way you eat and losing weight, explore the 7 Day Diet Plans!

 

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