Formerly forbidden foods that nutritionists now recommend? You will be surprised to find your favorite on the list!

Do you remember that time when everybody put a stigma on eating eggs? Or bread? It was because everybody believed they could give you some sort of disease, increase cholesterol levels, or, worse, they will make you gain weight. Even potatoes were shunned as unhealthy! What a time to be alive!

Some of these cautions may have slipped your mind, but we’re here to remind you of all of them. Margarine, for example, was seen as the culinary and dietary savior, whereas butter was viewed as the work of the devil. Yikes! Here are a couple of examples of formerly forbidden foods that nutritionists now advise as being healthy and super nutritious:

7. Chocolate

“Chocolate spikes blood sugar levels; don’t eat it!” “Chocolate will make you fat; it’s not healthy for you!” This is how chocolate was advertised as being bad for our overall health. Now it’s amazing to see how the tables turn, and in 2024, chocolate is recommended as HEALTHY.

However, knowing the definition of “good” chocolate is important. Chocolate contains a lot of magnesium, flavonoids, and antioxidants, especially dark ones. It may lower hypertension, enhance blood circulation, and guard against oxidative damage. Additionally, it could improve mood and mental focus. Just be careful to restrict your consumption to a few ounces of chocolate each day and select varieties with at least 70% cacao mass.

Pay attention to the label and check the percentage of cacao in it. Usually, anything above 65% is safe to eat.

6. Mayo sauce

Mayo is known as one of the formerly forbidden foods because it was believed that all the sauces were bad for our health. But good news, folks: mayo is here to stay because nutritionists recommend consumption as long as it’s at a moderate level.

5. Fatty foods

Fat makes you…well fat, right? This was something everyone believed back in the day. But the truth is that not all fats are bad for our health. Certain fats, such as those that are mono- and polyunsaturated, can improve vitamin absorption, speed up metabolism, prevent heart disease, and help us feel more satiated.

These healthy fats can be found in foods like avocados, almonds, pecan nuts, olive oil, seeds, fish (like salmon), walnuts, and flax seeds. Because the body is unable to generate omega-3 fats, which are an essential kind of polyunsaturated fat, it is necessary to get them through food.

It is advised to eat fatty fish, such as salmon, two to three times a week to get omega-3 fats into your diet. The affordable alternatives to salmon are shrimp, white fish, or tuna, which are also packed with proteins.

As a vegan alternative, plant-based sources of these fats include walnuts, canola or soybean oil, and flax seeds. To summarize, eat these types of fats without worrying they’ll be bad for your health. On the contrary!

4. Coffee

Coffee isn’t exactly a food, even if a lot of people have it as breakfast. However, for many years, it was very high on the list of formerly forbidden foods as being unhealthy because it could cause insomnia and heart issues.

However, according to doctors is a great source of polyphenols, caffeine, and other bioactive substances that may be beneficial to health. Coffee can boost mood, performance, metabolism, and alertness. Additionally, it might decrease the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and some types of cancer.

As with other foods on the list, moderate consumption is a must because excessive caffeine intake might have negative consequences. Limit your daily coffee consumption to three or four cups and aim to drink it black, with no cream or toppings.

3. Potatoes (but baked not fried)

In most cases, when we say the word potato, we automatically associate it with crispy and golden French fries. They’re tasty, affordable, and easy to make for everyone, including those who don’t have excellent cooking skills. However, fried potatoes aren’t exactly healthy. That’s why they were among the formerly forbidden foods.

Along with fiber, potassium, vitamin C, and resistant starch, potatoes are a great source of nutrients that can help decrease blood sugar and promote intestinal health. And because of that, we need to let go of that stigma. We don’t need to avoid them. However, you must consume French fries and potato chips in moderation and stick to the baked ones, which are super tasty as well, we guarantee!

2. Bread

There are a lot of types of bread, starting in the 1960s, and even now, there’s still a lot of stigma regarding it. In the 1960s, Robert C. Atkins, a cardiologist, created the popular low-carb Atkins Diet, which led us to believe that giving up bread would solve all of our problems.

Of course, most people followed his diet in an attempt to lose weight, but it was ultimately discovered that following this diet plan might lead to electrolyte imbalances, problems with stool, dangerously low blood sugar, and even renal issues.

So next time you think bread is bad for you, remember that it is abundant in fiber, vitamin B, and iron, all of which are beneficial for our bodies. Eat 1 or 2 slices of whole grain bread for lunch and peanut butter or any other spread of your choice as a snack later in the day.

As we mentioned above, bread is also recommended by nutritionists. Especially the ones made with whole grain. So what do you think about baking your bread instead of buying it? You’ll save money and have full control over the ingredients you use. This set of two baking bread loaf pans, 9.5×5 inches, is available on Amazon for $13.49. It has a non-stick coating that will release the bread very easily. 

1. Butter

There is nothing new that butter is abundant in saturated fat that’s why a lot of people dismiss it as being healthy. Everything started in the 1950s, and in the 1970s, it took off. High cholesterol and a higher risk of heart disease have been linked to saturated fats. However, because margarine is made mostly of unsaturated fats from vegetable oils, it was promoted as a healthier substitute. What a false advertising!

Hydrogenation, which is the process of adding hydrogen atoms to liquid vegetable oils to solidify them, was originally used to manufacture margarine. Hydrogenation also produces trans fats, which are man-made lipids that have been linked to negative health outcomes.

Of course, not all margarines are the same, because some of them are made of plant sterols or stanols, which are helpful if you want to lower cholesterol levels. In the end, the choice belongs to you, but butter, even though it is high in saturated fats, can be enjoyed guilt-free as a part of a balanced diet.

Takeaway:

When it comes to nutrition especially, moderation is undoubtedly the key. By preparing meals from scratch using whole ingredients, you can effectively manage the fat and sugar content in your diet. You don’t need to experience deprivation or starve yourself. Grab that tasty cookie with chocolate chips. As long as you don’t eat a whole pack twice a day, there is nothing to worry about!

Are you looking to improve your eating habits and adjust your diet? Discover the best proteins for muscle growth, curbing cravings, and a healthier body.