These nine foods, often viewed as a guilty pleasure or eaten in moderation, are healthier than you think, according to a new report.
Dr. Stephen Dahmer, Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, told Vogue magazine that sweets like chocolate, cheese or even a cup of coffee contain the nutrients the human body needs. Potatoes, eggs, butter, whole milk, nuts and fatty fish can also be beneficial, according to the doctor.
Misconceptions about what we eat
Many Americans are naive about the standards that qualify a food as healthy, which has led to long-standing misconceptions about what we eat, Dahmer said.
For example, potatoes have a reputation for being loaded with carbohydrates.
However, what’s often overlooked about starchy vegetables is that they’re rich in flavonoids, carotenoids and phenolic acids — all of which play a role in protecting against cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to Science Daily.
Potatoes improve insulin sensitivity and gut microbiome.
The risk is small in relation to the high reward
Eggs can be a hit or miss for picky eaters and are sometimes avoided for their high cholesterol content.
But when it comes to this food, the risk is small compared to the reward, as eggs provide an excellent source of protein while being rich in nutrients such as choline, biotin and vitamin A.
And cheese and butter have been added to the list, both sharing the provision of healthy fats and immune-boosting functionality.
“These foods are rich in probiotics that support gut health and immune function. Fermented foods have long been ignored or avoided despite their potential to promote digestive health and overall well-being,” Dahmer told Vogue.
Cheese contains nutrients such as vitamin B12 and phosphorus.
High-quality cheese may even reduce levels of harmful LDL cholesterol
Vitamin B12 is vital to the body because it helps keep blood and nerve cells intact.
Some researchers believe that high-quality cheese could even reduce the levels of harmful LDL cholesterol in the body and reduce the risk of stroke.
Another dairy product, whole milk, made the list despite the rise in popularity of non-dairy alternatives such as almond and oat milk.
Whole milk is rich in nutrients and has been associated with reduced risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, a recent study shows.
Fish has been cited as a healthier food than is often thought.
Fatty fish provides the body with all the healthy fats it needs, as well as protein.
But, as Dahmer says, it’s more than that.
“I regularly advise my patients to reconsider certain foods that have been unfairly demonized, and one such group includes fats – particularly those found in fatty fish such as salmon and sardines,” he said.
“These foods contain healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fatty acids and omega-3s, which are beneficial for heart health, brain function and general well-being.”
Other high-fat, high-protein foods that are good for you are nuts.
It is a snack that offers a range of nutrients with fats, fibers and other essential vitamins for the body.
But more than that, walnuts can help control blood sugar levels, writes nypost.com.
“Regular consumption has been linked to improved heart health, reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control and weight management support,” Dahmer said.
The biggest surprise on the list is chocolate
Chocolate in its purest form is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants – compounds that improve blood flow to the heart and reduce inflammation.
Research shows that chocolate also helps brain function and boosts immunity.
Coffee is the last surprise in the list of healthy foods to eat.
Of course, it is understandable, excessive coffee consumption is not good for the body, but it can have benefits for those who consume it in moderation.
When not consumed in excess, coffee is rich in antioxidants that help reduce the risk of several diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, according to the report.
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