The problem is “what’s healthy” seems to change daily. What was deadly yesterday is life-saving today. Sometimes there seems to be no way to keep up with the changes.
That’s why in this feature article I’m going to tell you about five delicious foods that are often considered “no-no” but have actually been proven healthy both in scientific studies and common sense tests.
These foods lower blood pressure, balance cholesterol and improve your overall health.
Chocolate
Most sweets
are rightfully considered unhealthy. Moderate consumption of chocolate
has, however, in several studies been proven to lower high blood
pressure, improve cholesterol level and deliver several other health
benefits.
There is a small catch, though. It’s really the cocoa that is healthy, so you should consume at least 70% dark chocolate. It’s also easy to overdo it. Just 50 grams of dark chocolate is plenty to get its health benefit.
There is a small catch, though. It’s really the cocoa that is healthy, so you should consume at least 70% dark chocolate. It’s also easy to overdo it. Just 50 grams of dark chocolate is plenty to get its health benefit.
Eggs
Once cursed
as the devil’s advocate, new studies have shown that the cholesterol in
eggs does not raise your bad cholesterol or promote plaque build up. Not
only that, there are even indications that eggs promote good
cholesterol.
Eggs also contain high quality protein and are low in calories. They are therefore ideal for reaching weight loss goals. And there are several antioxidant ingredients in eggs that promote your overall health.
Eggs also contain high quality protein and are low in calories. They are therefore ideal for reaching weight loss goals. And there are several antioxidant ingredients in eggs that promote your overall health.
Nuts
High
in calories, high in fat, doctors and nutritionists alike used to warn
against the consumption of nuts. But then studies began to roll in
proving that several types of nuts improve heart health, and lower blood
pressure and cholesterol levels. Even the FDA had to give in and allow
producers of many types of nuts such as walnuts to mark their products
“heart healthy.”
No need to go overboard, but one or two handfuls of nuts daily (despite their high calorie count) have also been proven in several studies not to add to the stubborn belly flab.
No need to go overboard, but one or two handfuls of nuts daily (despite their high calorie count) have also been proven in several studies not to add to the stubborn belly flab.
Salt
The debate
over salt continues. Yes, it’s a fact that a high consumption of salt
can raise your blood pressure. But the highest rise in blood pressure
ever recorded due to salt intake was only 4-5 points. And we’re talking
about extremely high salt consumption.
However, studies are showing that decreasing salt intake does not lower your risk of dying from stroke, heart attack or any other known disease.
Furthermore, it may not actually be the salt that increases blood pressure; but rather, the chemicals added to salt and how it’s processed. There are great indicators that high quality sea salt actually improves your overall health.
What you should restrict are highly processed foods full of chemicals and industrial type salt.
However, studies are showing that decreasing salt intake does not lower your risk of dying from stroke, heart attack or any other known disease.
Furthermore, it may not actually be the salt that increases blood pressure; but rather, the chemicals added to salt and how it’s processed. There are great indicators that high quality sea salt actually improves your overall health.
What you should restrict are highly processed foods full of chemicals and industrial type salt.
Potatoes
No we’re not giving you a free pass
to load your plate with deep fried French-fries. This type of trans-fat
is still considered bad.
Chewing on a big juicy baked potato is, however, as healthy as any other vegetable. Yes, it’s high in starch but these are complex carbohydrates so they drip into the blood stream slowly.
We need carbohydrates. But not highly processed carbohydrates like white, bleached wheat and especially not highly processed fructose carbohydrates like white sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
Potatoes are also extremely high in potassium, vitamin C and fiber, which all help lower your blood pressure and improve overall health.
Chewing on a big juicy baked potato is, however, as healthy as any other vegetable. Yes, it’s high in starch but these are complex carbohydrates so they drip into the blood stream slowly.
We need carbohydrates. But not highly processed carbohydrates like white, bleached wheat and especially not highly processed fructose carbohydrates like white sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
Potatoes are also extremely high in potassium, vitamin C and fiber, which all help lower your blood pressure and improve overall health.
These are just 5 examples of healthy foods that are too often labeled as bad for you.
