Peanut Butter
Everyone says that peanut butter can be super-fattening and it has a lot of calories.
BUT
It’s not necessarily fattening: body fat is controlled by balancing calories. Because it’s very filling, a spoonful (90 calories) or two goes a long way. It’s also full of protein, Vitamin B and Folate. You should get natural peanut butter though, as many commercial varieties are full of icing sugar.
Eggs
Everyone says that the cholesterol in egg yolks make them bad for your heart.
YET
It has been found that saturated and trans fats are worse for your heart than the cholesterol found in eggs. Eggs are also very filling: a study showed that a breakfast consisting of a scrambled egg with whole wheat toast resulted in people eating less at lunch. Yolks contain zeaxanthin and lutein, shown to lower risk for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in seniors.
Beef
Everyone also says that the cholesterol in beef is bad for your heart and it is full of saturated fats.
YET
Lean cuts of beef are an excellent low-fat source of protein and iron. Look for very red meat with little or no marbling, or ask your butcher.
Chocolate
Everyone says that chocolate is full of fats, sugar, and even wax!
YET
The antioxidants (flavanols) in dark chocolate can benefit cardiovascular health, and reduce stress hormones, including cortisol. But remember “ dark chocolate only – and the darker the better!”
Nuts
Everyone says that nuts are full of fat and the salt is really bad for you.
YET
Yes, they are full of fats – the healthy unsaturated kinds. Walnuts have omega-3 fats, pistachios have lutein and zeaxanthin (see eggs above), and almonds have vitamin E. Just be careful of the serving size as nuts can run you 160 to 200 calories per ounce. Keep it to a small handful and try for unsalted as much as possible.
Coffee
Everyone also says that coffee can make you aggressive, keep you up at night and is just plain bad for you.
YET
The compounds in coffee, including caffeine, may be able to reduce the risk of dementia, diabetes, and liver cancer -if you keep your intake down to 2 to 4 regular cups per day. Just be careful about the amount of sugar and cream you use. Even using a sugar substitute can be bad for you. Try to cut down or cut out the sweet stuff entirely and use skim or 1% milk.
