Phoenix foods
The price of butter has surged as it comes back into favour following a U-turn by nutrition experts. Here we look at other ‘bad’ products that have been rehabilitated
fOR years we were told it was bad for us. But the discovery that butter doesn’t contribute to heart disease and is now regarded as a healthier alternative to processed products means sales are booming.
In the past year the price of butter has increased by up to 53 per cent because of soaring demand from shoppers and dairy shortages.
According to Ali Laughlin, an analyst at Kantar Worldpanel, consumers are opting for more natural products because they believe they are healthier.
“The trend for more natural, less processed products has led many Britons to move away from margarine and other low-fat alternatives,” she says. “Butter is no longer viewed as wholly ‘bad for you’ but rather part of a healthy balanced diet.”
This view has been supported by research in the US which has shown that butter is an excellent source of the fatty acids that can support weight loss. It also slows the absorption of sugar and carbohydrates, improves brain function and contains cancer fighting compounds.
But butter is far from the only misunderstood staple that has recently been rehabilitated as a superfood. Here are some others.
The yolks will raise your cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease
Not so. In fact scientists have discovered that egg yolk may help you lose weight, it contains a nutrient called choline that boosts metabolism and turns off the genes in belly fat. Yolks also contain nutrients such as protein, folate, riboflavin and vitamins B12 and D that may help lower the risk of heart disease.
Myth: Truth:
Bacon gives you cancer and is full of bad saturated fats
If you eat bacon cured with salt (rather than sodium nitrate which produces cancer-causing nitrosamines when cooked at high heat) sparingly, you will be benefiting from a great source of protein and heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) which enhance cardiac health and protect against chronic disease.
Myth: Truth:
Carbohydrates are bad for you and potatoes are full of them
An Australian study has shown that the root vegetable is actually a powerful hunger tamer that can help you lose weight. The study showed that in a ranking of the satiating index of 38 foods, potatoes scored higher than brown rice and oatmeal.
Myth: Truth:
Drinking full-fat milk can lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease
The European Journal of Nutrition found that people who consume full-fat dairy products are no more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular
Myth: Truth:
disease than people who stick to low-fat dairy. And drinking skimmed milk means you miss out on crucial vitamins. Drink organic, grass-fed full-fat milk for maximum benefit.
Eat nuts sparingly because they are high in saturated fat which is bad for your heart
Many studies have linked the consumption of nuts to lower rates of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Nuts are also full of nutrients including fibre, omega-3s, magnesium, iron and calcium – but they are high in calories so eat in moderation.
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Myth: The saturated fat in coconut oil makes it unhealthy More than 50 per cent of the fat in coconut oil is “healthy” saturated fat which the body preferentially converts into energy rather than fat, aiding weight loss. Coconut oil also lowers your risk of heart disease.
Truth:
Everyone knows it’s bad for you If you consume no more than two or three
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servings per week (each around 75 grams) and stick to lean and grass-fed varieties where possible, lean beef can actually help you lose weight due to omega-3s which reduce inflammation and help the liver process fat.
Full of empty calories and sugar
In moderation, red wine can help you lose weight (due to the presence of a compound called piceatannol that binds to fat cells) boost your metabolism (thanks to ellagic acid) and stabilise blood sugar and muscle loss due to the presence of the antioxidant resveratrol.
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Fat is always bad for you Our bodies need some fats in order to function properly. Trans fats in margarines may be bad for you but essential dietary fats can protect against heart disease, help you lose weight, assist with the dispersal of nutrients in the body and improve your fatsoluble vitamin uptake. They include
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polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, DHA and EPA), monounsaturated fats (OEA) and some saturated fats such as stearic acid (found in animal fat, cocoa butter and shea butter) and lauric acid (found in coconut and palm kernel oil). Myth: It leads to the jitters Truth: Not only does coffee give you energy it boosts metabolism, burns tummy fat, reduces anxiety and is good for your heart – it is actually one of the top sources of heart-healthy flavonoids. Researchers have also found an inverse association between coffee consumption and Type 2 diabetes.
Myth:
It’s fatty and sugary and has no place in a balanced diet Truth: While some milk and white chocolate is full of sugar and additives, eating dark chocolate with a minimum of 74 per cent cocoa solids gives you the benefit of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and anti-inflammatory flavonols which lower the risk of a stroke and the chance of developing heart failure.