Debunked: The Myths of Eggs, Potatoes and Bananas

Share Button

Many people believe that they are not supposed to eat certain foods under any circumstances,  because they’ve heard they’re fattening or because they think they have bad health effects. The problem is that much of that information is just wrong. In the last few years our knowledge about what foods are healthy has expanded, but the news hasn’t gotten out. There are three wonderful foods that you should stop avoiding and start eating.

 

 

Eggs1. Eggs. For decades doctors and health officials advised people not to eat eggs at all, or to limit their egg consumption to four per week, because of their high fat and cholesterol content. And it’s true — eggs have fat and cholesterol in them. In fact, a single large egg has 186 mg of cholesterol. That’s 62 percent of the recommended daily intake. Still, that doesn’t mean eggs will harm your weight or your cardiovascular system. First of all, high cholesterol in your diet isn’t the cause of high serum cholesterol in your bloodstream. Recent research shows that eating eggs will not raise serum cholesterol or other risk factors in healthy people (diabetics and people with heart disease should, however, follow a diet recommended by their physician).

 

What’s so great about eggs? They have protein for maintaining muscle mass, which in turn helps manage your metabolism and weight. In fact, studies show that eggs both increase satiety and help you lose weight.

 

They’re also good for your health. Eggs are high in choline, an essential nutrient that has been associated with brain and neurological health, fetal development, and prevention of a variety of disorders from liver disease to atherosclerosis. Another benefit is that they contain carotenoid antioxidants like Lutein and Zeaxanthine, which reduce your risk of eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts.

 

Like everything else, eggs are best in moderation.  A good rule of thumb is two to three eggs per day. The egg is not only one of the healthiest but also the most versatile of foods. Hard boil it for salads, sunnyside-up it for laying over a sweet potato hash, make it into an omelette filled with whatever’s leftover in the refrigerator, or poach it to lay over steamed vegetables.

 

 

Potatoes2. Potatoes. Those who grew up in a world of white, bland potatoes, probably learned that they are just “empty calories,” carbohydrate delivery machines with few actual nutrients. On the contrary, white potatoes can be nutritious. This starchy vegetable is a good source of Vitamin C, potassium packed and fiber-rich, among other nutrients.  Highly-nutritious colored potatoes are now available, and not just at farmer’s markets, but at the supermarket. Potatoes that are intensely purple, yellow, or red in skin color, as well as those that have colored flesh (like sweet potatoes), have a much healthier nutritional profile than the potatoes that go into foods like fast food French fries.

 

The color of  potatoes comes from phytonutrients in their skin. It turns out that one thing you often heard about potatoes (“Always eat the skin!”) turns out to be true — so long as that skin is deeply colored. In purple potatoes, anthocyanins help to stabilize your body’s metabolism of glucose, meaning that, unlike a white potato, a purple potato won’t spike your blood sugar so that you are immediately hungry again. Sweet potatoes have the same effect, and when cut and roasted they deliciously replace the useless calories of a potato chip with a boost of vitamin A (important for basic immunity), beta-carotene (important to eye and organ health) as well as adipectonin, which helps prevent insulin resistance associated with diabetes.

 

Like eggs, potatoes can be cooked in an endless number of ways. You can quarter them, spray them with a little oil, and roast them. Or, boil and mash them. Grate them to make hash browns, or cube them and add them to a stew. Here’s another idea: sauté them in a pan with a little oil so they’re lightly brown and then crack in an egg. Two great foods in one pan!

 

 

Banana3. Bananas. This delicious fruit that comes in its own biodegradable wrapper has had a lot of criticism in the last few years. You can find endless debates about whether to only eat bananas when they’re green, or only when they’re brown, because their starch turns to sugar as they ripen. It’s like no one has any idea anymore whether they can have a banana at all, and if so, when!

 

Bananas come in an incredible range of sizes. If you are concerned about the sugar content,  buy smaller bananas! But, don’t pass up all that the banana has to offer. What is that exactly? Potassium, for one thing. A medium banana has 422 mg of potassium, a chemical element that is absolutely necessary for cellular function. Studies also show that potassium supplementation reduces blood pressure.

 

Potassium is lost during exercise, so a banana is the perfect pre-workout snack: It provides carbohydrates you need for energy, which is key in any workout, along with the potassium you will be losing as you sweat. It’s also a great on-the-go snack or your 4 p.m. pick-me-up. You can throw one in your gym bag, or add a banana to your pre-exercise smoothie.

 

Bananas have another great quality, which is exactly the thing that makes people fear eating them: they’re sweet. In the evening when you want a treat, a banana is much better than something with cane sugar or corn syrup.

 

Here’s a video made by Manuel Villacorta,  a nationally recognized, award-winning registered dietitian/nutritionist with more than 18 years of experience, about whether bananas are fattening…

 

 

 

Kahren Young

Kahren's passion for Health & Wellness motivated her to found Forever Natural Wellness to share advise, tips, products and more with people who want to follow a healthy lifestyle, full of joy and happiness and who want to accomplish everything they want in life. Live Healthy & Be Happy!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.