Which side are you on in the war against unhealthful foods? It’s hard to know when the combat rules keep changing. Now U.S. health officials and the American Heart Association have dropped a nutritional bomb: They’re lifting bans on dietary cholesterol.
Changing nutritional guidelines aren’t new. Your parents probably lived through the “low-fat” craze. Three decades ago, much fat removed from food was replaced with sugars. Now health officials are re-thinking all that sugar.
Before that, your grandparents probably thought that an egg was as bad as a spoonful of lard as a chow choice. But these days, eggs are thought of as nearly perfect—especially if they come from healthy chickens.
What’s changed? And who’s to say the nutrition gurus have it right this time?
For almost 40 years, food police warned that cholesterol-laden foods were a public health concern. Now experts say cholesterol intake may not be the reason behind elevated “bad” cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. The new finding of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Committee doesn’t reverse warnings about so-called “bad” cholesterol levels. The committee maintains that high levels of “bad” cholesterol are linked to heart disease. But the source of high blood cholesterol may not actually be high-cholesterol foods.
Some other foods that have been on and off the “nice food” list:
Chocolate—Thirty years ago, chocolate made you fat and gave you acne. Now dark chocolate is thought to improve brain function, increase blood flow, provide antioxidants, and lower cholesterol. But hold off on that candy bar for breakfast . . . for now.
Avocados—This high-fat fruit was labeled a monster. Now experts say avocados contain good fat—the kind that decreases bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol. Pass the guacamole!
Coffee—Because of its caffeine content, people have tried cutting back on coffee for years. Now research shows that caffeine increases endurance, boosts energy, improves mood and memory, and fires up metabolism. It may even lower the risk of diabetes, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.
Whole Milk—The latest word is that skim milk drinkers may tend to be more overweight than whole milk drinkers. Evidently, those who drink skim also eat more junk food—perhaps because their bodies need more fat.
Butter—Slathering food with butter has long been a dietary no-no. Now some nutritionists report that not only is real butter better than margarine but it also contains important nutrients and vitamins.
God made the human body to enjoy food but to do so using a heaping serving of common sense. Eat a variety of foods in moderation. Pay attention to how different foods make your brain and body feel. Remember that what makes you feel alert might make your friend feel sluggish. And take other people’s food advice with a giant grain of Pure Himalayan Pink Salt.
