Surprisingly Healthy Foods

Question

We tend to expect that foods labeled as 'healthy' are going to be either rather boring or practically inedible! But that does not have to be the case. This piglix is a list of surprisingly healthy foods that are also enjoyable to the palate.

Answer 1

Pasta

It’s low in fat and salt and keeps you satisfied longer, so you’re less likely to snack or overeat. But watch what you put on it. If you cover it in a rich Alfredo sauce, you can boost the fat and salt. Try some whole-grain pasta with olive oil and a bit of Parmesan instead.

Answer 2

Red Meat

It has to be the right kind: We’re not talking prime rib or greasy hamburgers. Lean red meat – when you’ve trimmed off all the fat you can see -- is a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, niacin, zinc, and iron. And in small portions, it’s been shown to lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol.

Answer 3

Popcorn

Junk food, right? Not so much. It’s a whole grain that’s loaded with fiber, which helps fill you up and keeps you regular. It also has vitamin B, manganese, and magnesium, as well as antioxidants, which may protect you against disease and cell damage. The key to keeping it healthy is to go easy on the salt and butter.

Answer 4

Honey

This natural sweetener is full of antioxidants that can protect your cells and be good for inflammation. It also can help with the mix of bacteria in your gut, which is important for digestion and getting nutrients from food.

Answer 5

Peanut Butter

Yes, it has quite a bit of fat. But it’s mostly the unsaturated kind, which isn't bad for you. Studies have shown that people who eat nuts or peanut butter regularly are less likely to get heart disease or type 2 diabetes than people who rarely eat them. It’s also a good source of something many Americans need more of: potassium. To make the most of it, go the unsalted route.

Answer 6

Chocolate

It’s all about the flavonoids, which may help protect you from cell damage. They also may lower your blood pressure, improve blood flow to your brain and heart, and make you less likely to have certain kinds of heart disease. Dark chocolate is best because it has the most cocoa -- where the flavonoids live -- and the least sugar. But you can have too much of a good thing, so just eat a little bit.

Answer 7

Eggs

They give you a full range of B vitamins and amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. They also have some nutrients that aren't in a lot of foods, like vitamin D and selenium. And eggs make you feel full for a while, which makes them such a great way to start the day.

Answer 8

Dark meat chicken

It has more saturated fat than white meat, but it’s far richer in minerals like iron, zinc, and selenium, as well as vitamins A, B, and K. It’s also high in taurine, which breaks down fat and helps with inflammation and blood pressure.

Answer 9

Potato salad

Cooled potatoes have something called “resistant starch,” which acts like fiber and can help keep you regular and your gut healthy. But hot or cold, potatoes have lots of nutrients, like potassium and magnesium. Look for low-fat, low-calorie mayonnaise to dress the salad.

Answer 10

Coffee

Doctors used to warn people off coffee if they were at risk for heart disease or a stroke. But research now shows that even heavy coffee drinking doesn’t raise your chances of those. And having three to five cups a day might even lower them. But too much joe can make you jittery and do a number on your stomach. Also, watch the cream and sugar.