{"id":535499,"date":"2010-04-20T13:04:19","date_gmt":"2010-04-20T17:04:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/green.yahoo.com\/blog\/guest_bloggers\/32\/six-once-forbidden-foods-that-aren-t-so-bad-for-us.html"},"modified":"2010-04-20T13:04:19","modified_gmt":"2010-04-20T17:04:19","slug":"six-once-forbidden-foods-that-aren%e2%80%99t-so-bad-for-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/535499","title":{"rendered":"Six once-forbidden foods that aren\u2019t so bad for us"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\"woman
\n
(Photo: Getty Images)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

For years, nutrition advice could be summed up something like this:
\nIf you like eating or drinking (fill in the blank), it\u2019s bad for you.
\nHealth experts blacklisted sugar, butter, chocolate, coffee, alcohol,
\nand eggs. <\/p>\n

The Grim Reaper, it seemed, doubled as tiramisu cake. So we
\nabstained from these forbidden foods or flagellated ourselves while
\nindulging in them. No longer! <\/p>\n

Researchers have found that these foods
\nare less sinful than we thought and, in some cases, can actually provide
\n health benefits. Plus, eating real foods in moderation is better for you and the planet than
\neating processed imitations. <\/p>\n

Find out what makes these \u201cbad\u201d foods not so bad after
\n all. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. Butter is (sometimes) better<\/strong>
\nWe all know that butter isn\u2019t good for us. But, according to the
\nscientists at Harvard Health Publications, a little butter isn\u2019t so bad
\nand is actually better than stick margarines. <\/p>\n

Margarine was thought to
\nbe heart-healthy because, unlike butter, it doesn\u2019t contain cholesterol
\nor saturated fat. But the common process to convert liquid oil into
\nmargarine by adding hydrogen atoms creates harmful trans fats that, like
\n butter, increase bad cholesterol in the blood while decreasing the good
\n kind. <\/p>\n

The hydrogenation is essential to create the stick margarine, but
\n many of the soft margarines in tubs are now made with fewer or no trans
\n fats and some health experts recommend those over butter. As for the
\noverall fat and calorie content, it\u2019s a tie\u2013neither will do your
\nwaistline any favors, so use them sparingly. <\/p>\n

Learn how to make your own butter here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. A good egg<\/strong>
\nNutritional experts had long maligned eggs because they are high in
\ncholesterol, but more recent research revealed that saturated fat — not
\ncholesterol — poses the greatest risk. Plus, eggs provide protein, iron,
\nand lutein, a nutrient that helps stem age-related eyesight decline.
\n(Spinach and other leafy greens are also good sources of lutein.) <\/p>\n

The
\nAmerican Dietetic Association considers eating eggs in moderation a
\nhealthy habit and suggests removing some of the egg yolks to reduce fat
\nand cholesterol. For example, in a recipe that calls for two whole eggs,
\n the association recommends substituting with two egg whites and one
\nwhole egg. <\/p>\n

Read about organic eggs here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. The case for coffee<\/strong>
\nForgoing coffee was like a badge of honor in health nut circles, but not
\n any longer. Recent studies have refuted caffeine\u2019s link to heart
\ndisease, cancer, and high blood pressure. In addition, health experts
\nnow tell us that filling up our mugs has health benefits. <\/p>\n

According to
\nthe American Medical Association, regular coffee drinkers are less
\nlikely to have type II diabetes, and their caffeine habit may reduce the
\nrisk of developing colon cancer, liver disease, and Parkinson\u2019s disease.
\n Researchers have also seen a reduced risk of dementia among people who
\ndrink three to five cups of coffee a day. <\/p>\n

Read more about making your
\ncoffee green: Coffee, Good and Green<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. Sweet sin or simply sugar?<\/strong>
\nCane sugar earned a bad rap, sparking a move to replace it with
\neverything from honey to concentrated fruit juice. Studies show that the
\n substitutes are no better than the real deal. Whatever the original
\nsource, consuming too many of these sweet simple carbohydrates can cause
\n health problems like obesity, type II diabetes, and tooth decay. Yet,
\ncane sugar can be part of a healthful diet in reasonable quantities. <\/p>\n

The
\n World Health Organization recommends limiting added sugar to 10 percent
\n of daily calorie intake. And as for the new pariah, high fructose corn
\nsyrup, the nutrition gurus say that it\u2019s probably no better or worse
\nthan all the rest. Although food marketers are taking advantage of the
\npublic\u2019s negative perception of high fructose corn syrup, experts say
\nthat consumers shouldn\u2019t be fooled by the new marketing techniques<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n

In terms of your health, it\u2019s the calories that count. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

5. A drink a day <\/strong>
\nFor a long time, science was lockstep with Puritan thinking, shunning
\nall alcohol. But within the last few years, there has been a growing
\nbody of evidence that alcohol in small amounts is associated with better
\n health. <\/p>\n

Experts believe that having a few drinks a week may reduce your
\n risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Studies indicate that red
\nwine in particular has positive benefits. Rich in antioxidants,
\nincluding resveratrol, red wine may help prevent clogged arteries. <\/p>\n

Be
\nwarned, though, while it\u2019s tempting to embrace the more-is-better
\nphilosophy, three plus drinks a day will up your risk of liver, mouth,
\nbreast, and throat cancer as well as memory loss. Experts recommend one beverage a day for women and two
\nfor men<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Not exactly a night on the town, but a glass of syrah with
\ndinner. Not bad! <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

6. Dispelling the chocolate myth<\/strong>
\nFor ages it seems, parents and health professionals said that chocolate
\n makes us pimply, rots our teeth, and offers no health benefits. Au
\ncontraire. Chocolate is chock full of minerals and has some of the same
\nantioxidants found in fruits and vegetables that ward off disease,
\nparticularly heart disease. <\/p>\n

Unlike gummy and caramel candies, chocolate
\ndoesn\u2019t stick to your teeth causing cavities. And don\u2019t try to blame
\nchocolate for blemishes; researchers have found no correlation between
\nthe two. In fact, the antioxidants may improve the appearance of your
\nskin by combating inflammation from free radicals. <\/p>\n

Look for dark
\nchocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa — the higher the cocoa
\npercentage, the more healthy flavanol antioxidants it contains. (Tea,
\ngrapes, blueberries, and cranberries are also high in flavanols.) The
\nlabel should also say non- or lightly alkalized or non-dutch processed. <\/p>\n

\nAn even better way to get your flavanol fix is with natural cocoa
\npowder; when converted into chocolate bars, the cocoa beans lose some of
\n their antioxidants. Plus, chocolate is a mood-booster<\/a>, increasing serotonin
\nin the brain.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now that you know the truth about these gustatory pleasures, stay calm.
\nResist the urge to stock up on all the goodies you have been missing.
\nRemember that nutritionists, researchers, and doctors universally agree
\nthat moderation is the key. Drink a few cups of coffee, but don\u2019t down
\nthe whole pot. Savor a few squares of chocolate, but try not to make
\neating the whole bar a habit. <\/p>\n

And go ahead, order that piece of tiramisu
\n every once in a while. It won\u2019t kill you. <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

More from Care2<\/strong><\/p>\n