Do you end up avoiding butter, whole milk, pizzas and cheese in the name of eating healthy? In today’s scenario, there might be many foods that you are blindly striking off your grocery list, because you think they are not good for you.
While some of them might actually not be good, there are many that have just been kicked off due to half-baked, incomplete knowledge. Remember the fact that all sorts of foods and drinks can fit into a healthy diet.
Just make sure that you are reading the labels, not overindulging, and are not being tricked into picking so-called "healthy" foods, vainly.
Talking about foods that you have been avoiding for long in the name of “good health” and diet, we have decided to tell you about a few such foods that are not as bad as you think they are. Open your eyes, and take a look.
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They are the first ones to get the bad rap from those who blindly try to loose weight. While it is a good idea for dieters to stay away from potatoes when they are just starting out, it is not good to strike them off completely. Ditch the deep-fired, served with extra fat, oiled-up dishes containing this ingredient, and you are good to go. Potatoes contain vitamin B6, copper, potassium, manganese, high-fibre, and much more.
The key is to know the right portion size, and not go for fatty add-ons. Just enjoy them in the healthy ways, away from the paratha and French fries style. Add a lot of veggies, some low-fat yoghurt, and it is good to be turned into a complete meal.
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You know that cheese is high in fat, particularly saturated fat, and calories, but it is also a very good source of calcium. Calcium is good for your bones, and prevents osteoporosis. Cheese also contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is a good fat, and reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This acid may also help you lose weight by blocking the storage of fats.
Included cheese in your diet in moderation, as it is delicious and nutritious. You can go for low-fat options, like strong, flavourful feta cheese and blue cheese.
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When it comes to cooking traditional Indian dishes, we are sure, ghee (clarified butter) finds its way into your mom’s pan. Well, next time, instead of making faces and avoiding those dishes, feel free to add them to your plate, because ghee is not only flavourful, but also healthy. A teaspoon of ghee has only 45 calories, and stimulates your digestive system.
Ghee is also rich with many antioxidants, and micronutrients, like vitamin K and CLA. Being nutritionally-rich with medium chain fatty acids, it not only gets absorbed faster, but also helps to burn other fats in your system, and boosts weight loss. But, just make sure that you do not overindulge.
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We all have heard that chocolates cause acne or migraines, but forget it. Chocolates contain some heart disease and cancer fighting antioxidants that are also found in fruits and vegetables. While it is high in fat, researches have also shown that stearic acid, the main fat in chocolate, doesn’t raise cholesterol.
It also increases serotonin in the brain, which makes it a positive mood booster. Dark cocoa in chocolates contains healthy flavonoids that are good for you. So, whenever you feel for it, go grab a dark chocolate to satiate your sweet tooth.
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While pizzas are not exactly low in fat, if you choose your pizza carefully, then it can have a lot of nutritional value. Stick to thin crust, whole wheat, half of the cheese and lots of vegetables, to make it healthy enough to be relished guilt-free.
Cheese will provide your body with calcium while vegetables will add fibre to your diet, thus helping you feel fuller for a longer time.
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It is a general misconception that they are a high-calorie treat, but they are actually highly nutritious, largely due to the milk content. Semi-skimmed milk is a source of calcium and riboflavin, and contains a high amount of vitamin B12, which is good for bone strength and immunity.
Pour in a lot of fresh fruits, and you have got yourself a healthy drink. It is best to stick to naturally sweet fruits, like grapes, bananas and mangoes, so that you can ditch adding sugar.
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So, just don’t shun things out of your diet blindly because of incomplete knowledge. Before eating anything, you need to keep in mind about the quality and quantity of fat it contains. While bad fats increase cholesterol and risks of diseases and weight gain, good fats protect us from many diseases and support overall health.