When it comes to a healthy eating plan, there is research as long as the eye can see, specifying why you should not be consuming certain foods. And if you are trying to lose weight, you can forget about things like wine, chocolate, crisps, piping hot potatoes smothered in butter, cheese, red meat, and pasta. This is why so many people struggle to stick to their healthy eating plan; because really a glass of carrot juice and some celery sticks doesn’t quite to the same job as a nice glass of red wine and a steak.
But there are some foods that we have been socialized to believe are not good for us, said to be high in fat, loaded with sodium and will make your hips widen faster than you can say creamy mushroom sauce. But despite popular belief, there is hope for all of our waistlines and our taste buds yet. Here are 5 foods that are surprisingly good for you.
Snapshot Survey
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:
1. Dark Chocolate
Chocolate in general has a bad rap for being on the list of forbidden fruit along with everything else that is nice. But chocoholics will be delighted to know that dark chocolate is not only good for you, in moderation it is great for you. Packed with as many antioxidants as green tea, dark chocolate can actually aid in reducing blood pressure, improve blood flow and is good for your heart. Plus it is low GI, and like oats, won’t spike your blood sugar. Sounds like a win-win all round.
2. Red Wine
Okay, so it is not exactly a secret about the health benefits of red wine, but some people have really taken the advice to indulge in some good red wine a little bit too seriously. Moderation is the key here; a bottle a night is going to do certain damage and not to mention, make you fat. However, some 2 glasses a day can lower blood pressure, prevent cell damage, boost your immune system, reduce the risk of breast cancer, balance out cholesterol levels, and also, lower the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer, lung cancer, dementia, and Alzheimers.
Frequently asked questions
3. Full Fat Milk
Everything on the shelves these days is low-fat or fat-free, and women pass the full-fat dairy section as fast as they pass the bread section – just in case it jumps out at them and slaps with a few extra inches in the derriere as they walk past. When in fact, they would do themselves good to stop and pick up full-fat milk. It is packed with vitamins A and D, both of which are much-needed ingredients for a healthy skin as well as calcium. Although it is healthy to choose low-fat options on things like cheese and meat, milk can actually help us stabilize, and keep to a healthy weight, while giving us the vitamins we need.
4. Avocados
Another one of those items we gobble behind a closed fridge door, because – hark – avos are fattening. And yes it does contain about 20% more fat than any other fruit, but it is literally packed with vitamins and minerals and good fats that our body desperately needs to run. Packed full of vitamin B6, vitamin E, and folic acid, it is the perfect snack for all those pregnant ladies out there, as it can actually reduce the risk of birth defects by about 30% because of the high folic acid content, as well as everything else. Good for your heart, your skin, your eyes, your blood sugar, blood pressure, reducing high cholesterol, halitosis and is full of free radicals and anti-oxidants.
5. Peanut Butter
High in natural protein, potassium, fiber, and natural good fats, peanut butter is a great source of amino acids and proteins which boost metabolism and repairs muscle cells. It is low GI, with very little salt or sugar that keeps you fuller for longer. 2 teaspoons a day can effectively ward off cancer, pull your blood pressure right, it is packed with vitamin E and anti-oxidants – so it has anti-aging properties as well, and is a fantastic source of iron which will help your circulation.