To eat or not to eat: Five guilty pleasure foods that are actually healthy

Treat yourself with delectable food but in moderation.

There is certainly no one more powerless than one who binges on food. We all tend to OD on our food favs and desolately embark on a guilt trip thereafter. In the wee hours of the night, we often find ourselves creeping into the kitchen to gorge, and ruminate when our doctor’s ominous voice echoes in our head.



But what if we tell you that some of these popular food items are in fact healthy? Here we bust the myth of five ‘unhealthy’ foods, which if consumed in moderation, could be incorporated into our diet.

Chocolate and whole milk



One glass of chocolate milk has the right carbs to protein ration (3:1) and restores bone-building calcium and sodium. Research has shown that it’s key to preserving cartilage and joint health, according to menshealth.com.

Butter



Experts suggest that as compared to processed fats found in margarine, the healthy saturated fats in butter may be good to moderately include in your diet. Butter is associated with lower risk of heart attack, obesity and degenerative arthritis, reports foodrenegade.com.

Cheese



While cheese is high in saturated fat and calorie content, it is rich in “nutrients, calcium, vitamin A, B12, riboflavin, zinc, and phosphorous”. Latest findings show that it constitutes conjugated linoleic acid, which is a good fat and has been linked to cancer prevention, reports the Times of India.

Coffee



Coffee increases concentration and stamina, and helps prevent diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The Huffington Post states that coffee could reduce the risk of suicide in men and women by 50%. However, exceeding the three to five cups limit could potentially lead to insomnia, jitters and anxiety.

Bananas



Rich in potassium, vitamin C, fibre and dopamine, bananas can be your go-to food when you are trying to lose weight or overcome a bad mood. Eating bananas regularly helps in digestion and may protect against stomach ulcers. In addition, they reduce swelling, protect against type 2 diabetes and abet weight loss.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2013.

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