5 Healthy Foods You Think Are Unhealthy

New thinking on eggs, nuts and more
When you envision foods that wreck your diet or sabotage your health, what pops into your mind?
There’s a good chance the list of foods you imagine includes options that could actually help you reduce stress, prevent heart disease and ward off certain cancers. Unfortunately, once a food gets labeled “bad for your health,” it never seems to lose that description — even when new studies contradict previous claims.
You can buck the trend. Here are 5 foods to consider adding back to your diet.

Eggs

Old thinking: Eggs will raise cholesterol and your chances of developing heart disease.
New thinking: Eggs are loaded with antioxidants, protein and nutrients vital to good health. For example, a 2011 study found that regular egg consumption helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancerdue to their high antioxidant content. Additional studies have found that eggs may help reduce blood pressure. Further, new research out of Yale University has found that eggs can be incorporated into a heart healthy diet without negative effects on cholesterol, weight or endothelial function. As with all good things, though, just be sure to eat eggs, and particularly egg yolks, in moderation.

Nuts

Old thinking: Nuts are too fattening.
New thinking: In truth, any food consumed in too great a quantity will cause weight gain. However, when eaten in appropriate portions — always check the serving size as a guideline — the protein and healthy fats found in nuts may actually help you lose weight. In addition to weight loss, eating nuts has been associated in several studies with reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Walnuts, which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats, are a particularly good option.

Chocolate

Old thinking: It’s a sweet treat, so it must be bad.
New thinking: The old thinking does apply to chocolate treats with a lot of added sugar. However, dark chocolate — look for cocoa content of at least 70 percent — is loaded with flavonoids, the same beneficial compounds found in berries, red wine and tea. An ounce of chocolate a day has been shown to reduce risks for heart disease, and an ounce and a half may help reduce stress.

Potatoes

Old thinking: All potatoes are too fattening.
New thinking: Certain potatoes may play a role in reducing the risk of a silent killer — but the type of potato matters. A 2012 study found that purple potatoes helped lower blood pressure in hypertensive, obese individuals without causing weight gain. Additionally, potatoes are naturally high in fiber and contain virtually no fat. Sweet potatoes and purple potatoes are tops when it comes to nutrient density, but what you put on your potato (or don’t put on it) will make or break an attempt at a healthy meal. Forgo the sour cream, bacon bits, butter and cheese. Opt for fresh veggies and herbs instead.

Soy

Old thinking: Eating soy increases your risk of disease.
New thinking: Soy is certainly controversial, but as with some of the foods mentioned above, the type of soy you eat matters. Many concerns are associated with highly processed soy products, but numerous studies looking at isoflavones and protein in whole soy sources — think miso, tofu and edamame — demonstrate the benefits associated with this legume. Highlights include reduction in cancers of the breast(for women on certain types of therapy), prostate and colon and improvement in heart health.
–Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS,RD,LD / ClevelandClinic.org