{"id":310964,"date":"2025-12-11T23:47:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/310964\/"},"modified":"2025-12-11T23:47:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:47:11","slug":"7-unhealthy-foods-that-are-actually-good-for-you-according-to-nutritionists-eat-this-not-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/310964\/","title":{"rendered":"7 “Unhealthy” Foods That Are Actually Good for You, According to Nutritionists \u2014 Eat This Not That"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nutritionists reveal seven \u201cunhealthy\u201d foods that deliver real benefits when eaten smartly.<\/p>\n

Certain foods get an undeservingly bad reputation when it comes to health. You might be avoiding something you think is bad for you, and missing out on serious benefits. \u201cMost foods labeled \u2018unhealthy<\/a>\u2018 are only problematic when eaten in extreme portions or highly processed forms. When you look at the whole plate and your overall pattern of eating, many of these foods are not just acceptable, but actually nutritious and satisfying,\u201d says Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD\/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies<\/a>. Here are 7 \u201cunhealthy\u201d foods that are actually good for you.<\/p>\n

\tPotatoes<\/p>\n

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Potatoes get a bad reputation because they\u2019re often fried or loaded with butter, \u201cbut the potato itself is incredibly nutrient dense. And yes, I am talking about white potatoes!\u201d says Collingwood. \u201cThey are full of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber (when you keep the skin on). A baked or roasted potato can be a very balanced, satisfying carbohydrate source.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPasta<\/p>\n

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Pasta isn\u2019t the enemy but portion extremes are, says Collingwood. \u201cPasta provides steady carbohydrates for energy, and when you pair it with protein, veggies, and healthy fats, it becomes a completely balanced meal. The problem isn\u2019t pasta itself, it\u2019s when the plate is all pasta with nothing else,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\tEggs<\/p>\n

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Yes, you can eat eggs, and even the yolk! \u201cEggs were demonized for years because of cholesterol, but current research shows dietary cholesterol doesn\u2019t impact blood cholesterol the way we once thought. Eggs are one of the most nutrient rich,\u201d says Collingwood.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e<\/p>\n

50 Unhealthiest Snacks on the Planet<\/a><\/p>\n

\tFull-Fat Dairy<\/p>\n

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You don\u2019t need to stick to low fat dairy products. \u201cFull fat dairy can be a great choice for satiety and blood sugar control. The fat helps you feel fuller longer, and research shows it doesn\u2019t increase heart disease risk the way older guidelines suggested. Like anything, it\u2019s about portion size and what fits your lifestyle,\u201d Collingwood tells us.<\/p>\n

\tDark Chocolate<\/p>\n

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Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and can absolutely be part of a balanced diet. \u201cThe key is choosing higher cocoa content (ideally 70% or above) so you get more of the flavanols and less added sugar. A small amount can support heart health and satisfy cravings,\u201d says Collingwood.<\/p>\n

\tPeanut Butter<\/p>\n

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And, peanut butter also offers health benefits. \u201cPeople fear peanut butter because it\u2019s high in calories, but those calories come with healthy fats, protein, and fiber. It\u2019s incredibly satisfying and can actually help with appetite control. Just stick to varieties without added sugars or oils,\u201d says Collingwood.<\/p>\n

\tBread<\/p>\n

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And finally, bread. \u201cBread isn\u2019t \u2018bad,\u2019 but rather it\u2019s the type and context that matter,\u201d explains Collingwood. \u201cWhole-grain or sourdough breads provide fiber, B vitamins, and steady energy. Pairing bread with protein and healthy fat helps keep blood sugar stable. What we want to avoid is labeling carbs as the enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heather Newgen<\/p>\n

\t\tHeather Newgen has two decades of experience reporting and writing about health, fitness, entertainment and travel. Heather currently freelances for several publications.\t\t\t\t\tRead more about Heather <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Nutritionists reveal seven \u201cunhealthy\u201d foods that deliver real benefits when eaten smartly. Certain foods get an undeservingly bad…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":310965,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[102,10428,6636,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-310964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-healthy-eating","10":"tag-nutrition","11":"tag-uk","12":"tag-united-kingdom","13":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=310964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/310964\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/310965"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=310964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=310964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=310964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}