PCOS test is based on the Rotterdam criteria for diagnosing PCOS.
Living Well
6 Food Items that You Love and Are Actually Good for You
Aug 1, 2017Whether you are trying to make healthier food choices to help manage Diabetes Type 2 or are giving ‘Clean Eating’ a go to lose that belly pudge, chances are that you’ve been handed a list of food items to avoid. And it may seem like almost everything you love eating is bad for your health! Or is it?
We live in a world where eating healthy has become rather confusing. Diet trends come and go faster than most of us can keep track, and so many foods we’ve grown up thinking to be ‘healthy’ have been labelled as ‘bad-for-you’ by so called diet-gurus. To make matters worse, there will be another set of ‘experts’ who will tell you the same foods are actually good for you! From red meat to dairy to egg yolks and fiber-rich bread —- do these foods really deserve the bad rep they get?
Yes, diet trends aren’t just annoying; they can also be anxiety-inducing when you simply can’t understand if the food items you love are actually good for you or really bad for you. Don’t worry; we’ve got your back!
Here’s A List Of Foods That You Love to Eat And Are Actually Good For You.
Cheese
healthy but delicious foods – Cheese
A lot of us wrongly assume that eating cheese makes us fat. Yes, cheese (and most dairy, for that matter) is high in saturated fats, and saturated fats have been linked to weight gain and increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But not all saturated fats are created equal. In fact, a study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2012 found that an inverse association of cheese intake and combined fermented dairy product intake with diabetes.
Cheese is a good source of calcium and protein, while being rich in vitamins A and B12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin. Studies from Finland as well as India have found that cheese is good for dental health. Cheese is an integral part of the Mediterranean Diet that significantly lowers risk of heart disease and diabetes.
However, do remember that cheese is a high-fat and high-calorie food. On an average, each ounce of cheese contains 100 calories and 6-9gm of saturated fat. But not all cheeses are created equal. For example – Mozzarella Cheese contains 85 calories and 6.3g fat per ounce, while Feta Cheese contains only 75 calories and 6g fat per ounce. On the other hand, Cheddar Cheese contains 115 calories and 9.6g fat per ounce.
Our Verdict: Moderation is the key to enjoying cheese. A few cubes of cheese eaten with some fruit for dessert or a couple tablespoons sprinkled over grilled veggie will not do you harm, but the same cannot be said for cheese-covered nachos or extra-large pizzas covered with extra cheese. If you’re worried about weight gain, try part-skim Mozzarella, Swiss cheese, and Feta cheese. These low fat cheeses contain the same amount of bone-building calcium and vitamin D, while keeping the saturated fat content in check too.
Dark Chocolate
healthy but delicious foods – Dark chocolate
Chocolate lovers can rejoice — dark chocolate and cacao nibs have been linked to health benefits, which is why they make it on this list of delicious that are actually healthy! Experts believe that if you crave a sweet snack in the middle of the day or must have a sweet treat post dinner, a square of dark chocolate might be the healthiest choice.
Research has found that dark chocolate prevents arterial stiffness and white blood cell adhesion —known factors that play a significant role in atherosclerosis. Studies have found it also improves endothelial function and improves plasma epicatechin concentrations. An Italian study found that dark chocolate also decreases blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity in healthy persons.
Studies have also found that cocoa polyphenols may increase the concentration of HDL cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol), whereas chocolate fatty acids may modify the fatty acid composition of LDL (bad cholesterol) and make it more resistant to oxidative damage.
Our Verdict: Since most chocolates can be loaded with sugars, we recommend you buy minimally processed dark chocolate with at least 70% cacao content. Avoid those with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list and pick chocolate that’s made with cocoa butter. Most importantly, eat in moderation, like a small square after meal and avoid overindulging.
Red Wine
healthy but delicious foods – Red Wine
Enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner? You don’t have to give it up, as long as you are careful not to overindulge! Red wines that have higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants can be good for you. In fact darker the wine, higher the antioxidant content — this is why cabernet sauvignon is an excellent choice.
Resveratrol in red wine is the key ingredient that gives it the ‘heart-healthy’ label. Resveratrol prevents damage to blood vessels, reduces LDL cholesterol and prevents blood clots. Studies have found that compounds in red wine are associated with preventing coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis. Also, moderate consumption of alcohol has been linked with decreased risk of diabetes as well as cognitive decline.
However, moderation is the key here. It’s very easy to overdo alcohol, and wine is no exception. The best way to drink wine is to do it with a Mediterranean meal in a social, relaxed setting that improves both your physical and mental health. Unless you can exercise great control and can safely imbibe just a glass of wine every day, it may be best to not drink every day.
Our Verdict: Be mindful of how much you’re drinking. That means, restrict yourself to a 175ml medium size glass of red wine a day is you’re a woman, and if you’re a man, drink no more than a large 250ml glass of wine per day. If you have a weak liver, restrict yourself to an occasional glass but avoid drinking every day.
Egg Yolk
healthy but delicious foods – Egg Yolks
Take a look at any ‘healthy breakfast list’ and you’ll most certainly find the egg-white omelet. But what about the egg yolk?! Old-school advice for improved heart health made egg-white synonymous with ‘healthy’, but this couldn’t be more far away from the truth. Egg yolks are not just delicious; they also pack a nutritious punch. Rich in vitamins A, D, E and K along with saturated omega-3 fats, the yolk contains more vitamin B12, folate and choline than egg-whites. Also, lutein and zeaxanthin – the two antioxidants found in eggs are found in the yolk, not the whites! And while egg yolks do contain cholesterol and saturated fat, adding these highly bioavailable carotenoids – lutein and zeaxanthin – into your diet with egg yolk is counterbalanced by potential LDL-cholesterol elevation from the added dietary cholesterol, according to research.
One egg yolk contains about 210 mg of cholesterol but scientists have found that eating cholesterol-rich food, like eggs, doesn’t have much of an influence on serum cholesterol levels, and by extension, on risk of cardiovascular disease. A study conducted at Yale Prevention Research Center in 2005 found that egg consumption does not adversely affect endothelial function in healthy adults, supporting the view that dietary cholesterol may be less detrimental to cardiovascular health than previously thought. Another Finish study found that egg or cholesterol intakes were not associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk, even highly susceptible individuals (who are the ApoE4 gene carriers).
Our Verdict: Eat whole eggs several times a week. We recommend you opt for eggs from organically raised chickens as these are fed a healthy, natural, pesticide-free diet. These free-range eggs are more nutritious than commercially raised eggs.
Red Meat
healthy but delicious foods – Red meat
You may have heard that white is better than red when it comes to meat, because red meat is higher in saturated fats. But did you know that red meat, like beef, is also a great source of zinc, vitamin B3, B6 and B12, iron, riboflavin, Selenium and many more vitamins, minerals and nutrient.
Iron helps deliver oxygen to tissues and organs, while zinc supports the immune system. Red meat is also rich in creatine and carnosine which are important for brain and muscle health. In fact, grass-fed beef is even healthier as it contains more CLA and omega-3 fatty acids.
Our Verdict: We highly recommend a Low Carb-High Fat diet, which is why we think that lean cuts of red meats can greatly benefit your healthy diet. Aim for two or three portions (2 to 3 ounces each) per week. Avoid any processed red meats and choose organic grass-fed beef.
Whole-Grain Bread
healthy but delicious foods – Whole Grain Bread
Are you caught up in the recent gluten-free craze too? No, giving up gluten will not make you healthier if you don’t suffer from celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. In fact, giving up gluten can have serious consequences. Not only can gluten-free foods make you gain weight, they can also make you deficient in key vitamins and minerals. Most breads and cereals are fortified with B vitamins and iron.
Also, whole grains are the easiest way to eat more fiber, especially if your meals don’t focus on whole foods and cooked at home to include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetable. Researchers have not been able to find any link between long-term dietary intake of gluten and risk of coronary heart disease. On the other hand, the avoidance of gluten may result in reduced consumption of beneficial whole grains, which may affect cardiovascular risk.
Our Verdict: The key to eating whole grains without any discomfort is to soak them overnight and allow them to ferment. Sourdough bread made with whole wheat flour in this way, when eaten with grass-fed butter, is highly nutritious and also easy to digest.
Final Takeaway
At Sepalika, we believe that the best way to overhaul your diet is to aim for balanced nutrition. When eaten in moderation, all whole foods – be it healthy proteins from meats and fish, healthy saturated fats or carb-rich whole grains, are good for you. As long as you avoid processed foods and your diet is made up with whole, fresh foods, eat everything in moderation to achieve nutritional balance.
However, when it comes to diet and chronic illness, one man’s food is another man’s poison. Talk to a doctor or a nutritionist and make sure that the ‘good’ foods you are considering are in fact “safe” for you. For example, while diabetics can enjoy cheese occasionally, cheese can be trigger food for those suffering from GERD. And when it comes to dark chocolate, both diabetics and GERD sufferers would be better off avoiding it completely — most chocolates contain sugar which diabetics should advice and chocolate is also a common GERD food trigger. In simpler words – there’s no blanket good or bad foods…..your health and medical history will decide which foods are actually ‘good’ as well as ‘safe’ for you.
Maneera is a health and fitness enthusiast who is also a firm believer in the power of dietary supplements. A health buff, she likes to help others improve their overall well-being by achieving the right balance between nutrition, exercise and mindfulness.
Latest posts by Maneera Saxena Behl (see all)
- Trying to Get Pregnant? Read These 9 Effective Tips First! - August 4, 2021
- An Easy Fertility Diet Plan: Improve Your Pregnancy Chances - July 22, 2021
- 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Acid Reflux - April 28, 2020
References:
Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations in plasma after dietary supplementation with egg yolk – https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/70/2/247.short
Egg consumption and endothelial function: a randomized controlled crossover trial – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15721501
Associations of egg and cholesterol intakes with carotid intima-media thickness and risk of incident coronary artery disease according to apolipoprotein E phenotype in men: the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study – https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/early/2016/02/10/ajcn.115.122317.abstract
The amount and type of dairy product intake and incident type 2 diabetes: results from the EPIC-InterAct Study – https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/96/2/382.short
Effect of consuming different dairy products on calcium, phosphorus and pH levels of human dental plaque: a comparative study – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22652212
Short-term consumption of probiotic-containing cheese and its effect on dental caries risk factors – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12446187
Cheese, omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid and human health – https://search.proquest.com/openview/7791b64fe2e7613a790a7c42bc8ad0d0/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=36914
Dark chocolate consumption improves leukocyte adhesion factors and vascular function in overweight men – https://www.fasebj.org/content/28/3/1464
Flavonoid-rich dark chocolate improves endothelial function and increases plasma epicatechin concentrations in healthy adults – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15190043
Short-term administration of dark chocolate is followed by a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in blood pressure in healthy persons – https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/81/3/611.short
Dark Chocolate Consumption Increases HDL Cholesterol Concentration and Chocolate Fatty Acids May Inhibit Lipid Peroxidation in Healthy Humans – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584904004551
The red wine phenolics trans-resveratrol and quercetin block human platelet aggregation and eicosanoid synthesis: Implications for protection against coronary heart disease – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0009898195060451
Health: Endothelin-1 synthesis reduced by red wine – https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v414/n6866/abs/414863a.html
Moderate alcohol consumption and cognitive risk – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21857787
Moderate Alcohol Consumption Lowers the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes – https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/3/719.short
Effect of feeding systems on omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty acids in Australian beef cuts: potential impact on human health – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16500874
Long term gluten consumption in adults without celiac disease and risk of coronary heart disease: prospective cohort study – https://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1892
Evidence of poor vitamin status in coeliac patients on a gluten-free diet for 10 years – https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01283.x/full