Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

For years, nutrition advice could be summed up something like this: If you like eating or drinking (fill in the blank), it’s bad for you. Health experts blacklisted sugar, butter, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and eggs. The Grim Reaper, it seemed, doubled as tiramisu cake. So we abstained from these forbidden foods or flagellated ourselves while indulging in them. No longer! Researchers have found that these foods are less sinful than we thought, and in some cases, can actually provide health benefits. Find out what makes these “bad” foods not so bad after all.

1. A Good Egg
Nutritional experts had long maligned eggs because they are high in cholesterol, but more recent research revealed that saturated fat—not cholesterol—poses the greatest risk. Plus, eggs provide protein, iron, and lutein, a nutrient that helps stem age-related eyesight decline. (Spinach and other leafy greens are also good sources of lutein.) The American Dietetic Association considers eating eggs in moderation a healthy habit and suggests removing some of the egg yolks to reduce fat and cholesterol. For example, in a recipe that calls for two whole eggs, the association recommends substituting with two egg whites and one whole egg.

2. The Case for Coffee
Forgoing coffee was like a badge of honor in health nut circles, but not any longer. Recent studies have refuted caffeine’s link to heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure. In addition, health experts now tell us that filling up our mugs has health benefits. According to the American Medical Association, regular coffee drinkers are less likely to have type II diabetes and their caffeine habit may reduce the risk of developing colon cancer, liver disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers have also seen a reduced risk of dementia among people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day.

3. Sweet Sin or Simply Sugar?
Cane sugar earned a bad rap, sparking a move to replace it with everything from honey to concentrated fruit juice. Studies show that the substitutes are no better than the real deal. Whatever the original source, consuming too many of these sweet simple carbohydrates can cause health problems like obesity, type II diabetes, and tooth decay. Yet, cane sugar can be part of a healthful diet in reasonable quantities. The World Health Organization recommends limiting added sugar to 10 percent of daily calorie intake. And as for the new pariah, high fructose corn syrup, the nutrition gurus say that it’s probably no better or worse than all the rest. Although food marketers are taking advantage of the public’s negative perception of high fructose corn syrup, experts say that consumers shouldn’t be fooled by the new marketing techniques. In terms of your health, it’s the calories that count.

4. A Drink a Day …
For a long time, science was lockstep with Puritan thinking, shunning all alcohol. But within the last few years, there has been a growing body of evidence that alcohol in small amounts is associated with better health. Experts believe that having a few drinks a week may reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Studies indicate that red wine in particular has positive benefits. Rich in antioxidants, including resveratrol, red wine may help prevent clogged arteries. Be warned, though, while it’s tempting to embrace the more-is-better philosophy, three plus drinks a day will up your risk of liver, mouth, breast, and throat cancer as well as memory loss. Experts recommend one beverage a day for women and two for men. Not exactly a night on the town, but a glass of syrah with dinner. Not bad!

5. Dispelling the Chocolate Myth
For ages, it seems, parents and health professionals said that chocolate makes us pimply, rots our teeth, and offers no health benefits. Au contraire. Chocolate is chock full of minerals and has some of the same antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that ward off disease, particularly heart disease. Unlike gummy and caramel candies, chocolate doesn’t stick to your teeth causing cavities. And don’t try to blame chocolate for blemishes; researchers have found no correlation between the two. In fact, the antioxidants may improve the appearance of your skin by combating inflammation from free radicals. Look for dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa—the higher the cocoa percentage, the more healthy flavanol antioxidants it contains. (Tea, grapes, blueberries, and cranberries are also high in flavanols.) The label should also say non- or lightly alkalized or non-dutch processed. An even better way to get your flavanol fix is with natural cocoa powder; when converted into chocolate bars, the cocoa beans lose some of their antioxidants. Plus, chocolate is a mood-booster, increasing serotonin in the brain.

6. Butter Is (Sometimes) Better
We all know that butter isn’t good for us. But, according to the scientists at Harvard Health Publications, a little butter isn’t so bad and is actually better than stick margarines. Margarine was thought to be heart healthy because, unlike butter, it doesn’t contain cholesterol or saturated fat. But the common process to convert liquid oil into margarine by adding hydrogen atoms creates harmful trans fats that, like butter, increase bad cholesterol in the blood while decreasing the good kind. The hydrogenation is essential to create the stick margarine, but many of the soft margarines in tubs are now made with fewer or no trans fats and some health experts recommend those over butter. As for the overall fat and calorie content, it’s a tie—neither will do your waistline any favors, so use them sparingly.

Everything in Moderation
Now that you know the truth about these gustatory pleasures, stay calm. Resist the urge to stock up on all the goodies you have been missing. Remember that nutritionists, researchers, and doctors universally agree that moderation is the key. Drink a few cups of coffee, but don’t down the whole pot. Savor a few squares of chocolate, but try not to make eating the whole bar a habit. And go ahead, order that piece of tiramisu every once in a while. It won’t kill you.

By Sarah Krupp
Reprinted with permission from Divine Caroline

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

Sighhh Good thing I never gave 'em up! lol The plot thickens hahaha

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

My feelings exactly : hahaha

But I have to apologize to my Cuban friend who has had to tell me once:”You can say anything to me, but don't tell me to give up coffee.” Ever had cafe cubano?

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

Hi Meenakshi, thank you for highlighting this, I hope you don't mind me adding a little more info on eggs, a natural diet for chickens makes for better healthier chickens and eggs, and fish meal added to their diet makes healthier chickens and eggs high in omega 3 good oils,  Comercially fed chickens are treated as vegetarian and lacking in many natural nutrients, they are expendable, discarded after one year of prime laying. Free range chickens will consume grass as 30% of their diet,it's low in calories and thats a lot of grass, also fallen fruit and all kinds of bugs, worms, bug and snail eggs, seeds, dandelion / weeds, and lay for up to 12 years, so it's not just about what is good for us, it's also about what is beneficial for the chickens, with the right diet everyone benefits The chickens benefit, pest control and fertilising the land Gaia benefits and we benefit. There are eggs and Eggs!!!!  Check their source!!!!

http://www.lionsgrip.com/chickens.html

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

What a wonderful resource, Gael. I was raised vegetarian by parents who did give us eggs in childhood, but we grew out of their use in later years. I'm needing to have eggs once in a while now, but I buy those that are called “vegetarian eggs” from free range chickens. I'll also take a look at the link you've provided to get better educated about them.

Please give any and all information - we learn that way.

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

Meenakshi I always smile at the comings and goings of fads in the nutrition world

love

Re: Six Once-Forbidden Foods that Aren't so Bad for Us

everything in moderation!

Re: Foods that aren't so bad for us -Mona-vie.

Meenakshi,

I am up to speed on all of these.  I would put in a plug here for Mona-vie.  One can google it and come up with all kinds of info - good and bad.  My daughter is involved in it and I was highly sceptical; because it is obviously also operating on a MLM philosphy.

But I did try a bottle, just because I love my daughter; while sharing with her my initial observations, which did not surprise her at all, coming from me.

I did not even manage to do the 2 oz twice a day, at best I was doing it once a day.  An interesting thing seemed to happen, which I am now testing out further.  My morning fasting blood sugars began to go lower, without any other changes in my diet.  I finished the bottle and did not reorder immediately; and the blood sugars went back up to where they were previously.

I buy only the “plain” Mona-vie original because I get all the supplemental nutrients the other versions offer and the quantities in those, I don't think significant enough.  Mona-vie is mostly dependent on the Acai Berry for its benefits.  It is pricey and comes bottled in a nice bottle, that looks very high-end, like wine.  Since I can't drink alcohol (my husband drinks a glass of dry, red wine nightly), this is “my wine” drink for the day.

For anyone who wishes to investigate whether this offers any benefits for them personally, I would offer my daughter's link - though this is not an inducement to buy targeted at anyone in this group, as I am simply sharing my surprising discovery here, which my daughter does only now indicate to me that the company has become aware of it and that they are actually investigating.  I am now in my second trial of the effect and it does appear that it may be happening again.

Deb

Here is the link at Mona-vie .  It is possible to simply order product, without going into the “distributor” program.  That is what I do.  Just click on the “Product” link, when the “home” page loads, and it should take you through the rest of their process.  Also, no need to sign up for the scheduled delivery option, unless you decide you want to be regular with it.  I believe my experience indicates, that any “benefits” are just like supplement benefits - short term - except as that impacts health for the long-run, which always - anything we do, does. 

PS - re: Moderation.  I always remember my dad's advice “you have to eat a little dirt”.  That's my health gem.

Re: Foods that aren't so bad for us -Mona-vie.

Deb, what a coincidence! Just today, my personal trainer, who's getting into business with this, was telling us a little more about it. And this weekend, someone offered it to me and I enjoyed the taste!

I'm told that some of them have a shellfish extract which is important to know about, for those who are allergic or vegetarian. But they have kosher and halal version for people of different religious groups.

I'll go check out your daughter's link now.