Evil Foods That are GOOD for Your Diet

By Rigel Celeste on January 15th, 2010

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I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of hearing about all the foods I can’t eat. I’m trying to be healthier, but want to focus on the positive side of things, and if you feel the same then read on! Here are five “evil” foods that can actually be good for you.

Potatoes

Although extremely unhealthy in many of their most popular forms (french fries, potato chips, loaded baked potatoes) potatoes can actually be a real help to you in your quest for a healthier self if you prepare them properly. When boiled or baked the starch in the potatoes absorbs water and swells, and when that cooked potato is then refrigerated (mmm, potato salad) bits of that swollen starch crystallize and become resistant to digestion (yay!). And if that isn’t helpful enough, those undigestible starches can ferment in your intestines and cause fatty acids to build up that block the burning of carbs. So guess what your body burns instead? Fat!.

Pasta

Like with salad, the real trouble with pasta is in all the fattening sauces. Cooked pasta is about 70% water, and studies show that foods with high water content keep people feeling fuller longer. Whole grain pasta varieties are best (the fiber adds even more satisfying fullness) and choose low-fat sauces like marinara (add lots of veggies and grilled chicken to add extra flavor, fullness, and nutrients).

Bread

Your body needs carbohydrates to work, specifically your brain needs them to make the neurotransmitter serotonin, and the carbs found in whole grain breads are perfect. The more serotonin your brain makes the happier, calmer, and more satisfied you’ll feel. Just avoid breads made of refined flour and processed ingredients (many brands even contain corn syrup).

Peanut Butter

Although fattening if you eat too much, peanut butter can actually be slimming in small doses. The healthy fats found in peanut butter can help boost your metabolism and prevent the unhealthy kind of fat from depositing around your midsection.

Cheese

The saving grace in a serving of cheese is the calcium content. Studies show that when the body is short on calcium it releases a hormone that triggers the storage of body fat, and eating a diet high in calcium is better than just taking a supplement. So enjoy an ounce or two of cheese and lose an ounce or two of fat!