Popcorn and peanut butter: (un) healthy?

1. When you study healthy food, it sometimes seems like you have to leave a lot. Filling your shopping basket in a responsible way is not that easy. After all, the shelves are full of things that wouldn't be good for you. These are five products that have an unhealthy name, but are actually quite healthy.

1. Peanut butter

1. A jar of this spread consists of almost 40 percent fats. Do you want to delete it from your shopping list? Absolutely not. Peanut butter contains almost only healthy, unsaturated fatty acids. These fats ensure that you can absorb vitamins well and are like fuel for your body. You need unsaturated fatty acids for the building of cells and for your resistance. Moreover, this golden substance gives a full feeling so that you will not be hungry for a longer period of time. Choose a jar where the percentage of peanuts is high: a peanut butter without additives is the healthiest.

2. Popcorn

1. This tasty cinema snack consists entirely of unprocessed grain: corn. Corn is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect and popped corn is also packed with fiber. Those hard skins that sometimes get stuck between your teeth improve your blood flow and the functioning of your intestines. Moreover, you are quickly saturated with a bowl of popcorn. The snack also contains large amounts of polyphenols. These are powerful antioxidants that improve your resistance but also keep your skin beautiful. One serving of popcorn contains about 300 milligrams of polyphenols. For comparison: a serving of fruit contains an average of 160 milligrams of polyphenols. Be careful though! Microwave popcorn and processed popcorn are often high in salt, sugars and extra calories. That is not very healthy. You can avoid the excess salt and sugar by making your own popcorn from raw corn.

2. This tasty cinema snack consists entirely of unprocessed grain: corn. Corn is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect and popped corn is also packed with fiber. Those hard skins that sometimes get stuck between your teeth improve your blood flow and the functioning of your intestines. Moreover, you are quickly saturated with a bowl of popcorn. The snack also contains large amounts of polyphenols. These are powerful antioxidants that improve your resistance but also keep your skin beautiful. One serving of popcorn contains about 300 milligrams of polyphenols. For comparison: a serving of fruit contains an average of 160 milligrams of polyphenols. Be careful! Microwave popcorn and processed popcorn are often high in salt, sugars and extra calories. That is not very healthy. You can avoid the excess salt and sugar by making your own popcorn from raw corn.

3. Dark chocolate

1. Lowering the risk of a heart attack by eating a piece of chocolate every day, that may sound too good to be true. A study among German chocolate eaters turns this dream into reality: lovers of dark chocolate reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by almost 40 percent. Moreover, there is tryptophan in cocoa, a substance that makes you happy and has a relaxing effect. If you eat 40 grams of dark chocolate a day, the number of stress hormones in your blood decreases. Raw chocolate is the purest: these bars contain the most cocoa. Also, the cocoa beans are cold ground instead of roasted and no seasonings have been added.

2. Reducing the risk of a heart attack by eating a piece of chocolate every day, that may sound too good to be true. A study among German chocolate eaters turns this dream into reality: lovers of dark chocolate reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by almost 40 percent. Moreover, there is tryptophan in cocoa, a substance that makes you happy and has a relaxing effect. If you eat 40 grams of dark chocolate a day, the number of stress hormones in your blood decreases. Raw chocolate is the purest: these bars contain the most cocoa. Also, the cocoa beans are cold ground instead of roasted and no seasonings have been added.

4. Cheddar cheese

1. This cheese does not have such a good reputation. It does not have its appearance: an orange-colored piece of cheese with a sticky texture does not look very healthy. The fact that you also find it on greasy McDonalds burgers ensures that you quickly ban the cheddar from your diet. Still, cheddar cheese isn't as bad as it seems. Cheddar contains minerals such as zinc and phosphorus. Zinc ensures the proper functioning of your immune system and phosphorus gives you strong bones and teeth. This is about good quality real cheddar cheese. Real cheddar cheese is made from raw milk and naturally contains probiotics. Raw cheeses support your intestinal flora and are said to have a positive effect on your health. Factory cheese is made from pasteurized milk. All probiotics will have disappeared by heating the cheeses. So you better leave those cheap slices of cheese from the supermarket behind.

2. This cheese does not have such a good reputation. It does not have its appearance: an orange-colored piece of cheese with a sticky texture does not look very healthy. The fact that you also find it on greasy McDonald's burgers ensures that you quickly ban the cheddar from your diet. Still, cheddar cheese isn't as bad as it seems. Cheddar contains minerals such as zinc and phosphorus. Zinc ensures the proper functioning of your immune system and phosphorus gives you strong bones and teeth. This is about good quality real cheddar cheese. Real cheddar cheese is made from raw milk and naturally contains probiotics. Raw cheeses support your intestinal flora and are said to have a positive effect on your health. Factory cheese is made from pasteurized milk. All probiotics will have disappeared by heating the cheeses. So it is better to leave those cheap slices of cheese from the supermarket behind.

5. Chocolatemilk

1. A cup of hot or cold chocolate after exercise stimulates muscle recovery and muscle building. The brown drink is packed with carbohydrates and proteins that your body absorbs faster than any other sports or energy drink. The flavonoids in your chocolate milk provide more oxygen in your blood, which improves blood flow. This allows you to remember things better. Heating chocolate releases many antioxidants. So choose sticks with dark chocolate and let them melt in your milk. Another advantage: because you are very saturated after drinking this thirst quencher, you prevent even more tasty cravings. Chocolate milk is filling and sweet, but you can make your cup as low in calories as you want. Skimmed milk and dark chocolate are great alternatives to a pack from the supermarket. That big dollop of whipped cream and whole milk in combination with white or milk chocolate will make your drink unhealthy.

2. A cup of hot or cold chocolate after exercise stimulates muscle recovery and muscle building. The brown drink is packed with carbohydrates and proteins that your body absorbs faster than any other sports or energy drink. The flavonoids in your chocolate milk provide more oxygen in your blood, which improves blood flow. This allows you to remember things better. Heating chocolate releases many antioxidants. Therefore, choose sticks with dark chocolate and let it melt in your milk. Another advantage: because you are very saturated after drinking this thirst quencher, you prevent even more tasty cravings. Chocolate milk is filling and sweet, but you can make your cup as low-calorie as you want. Skimmed milk and dark chocolate are great alternatives to a pack from the supermarket. That big dollop of whipped cream and whole milk in combination with white or milk chocolate will make your drink unhealthy.

Healthy enjoyment Peanut butter, popcorn, cheddar cheese and chocolate (milk) are not the only sources of substances that are good for your health. You can also find these substances in vegetables and fruit, for example. So you don't necessarily have to eat peanut butter or chocolate to get them. That does not alter the fact that many people like the aforementioned sandwich fillings and the various snacks very much. Enjoy it occasionally and in moderation: there is nothing wrong with that. Don't miss anything?

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Don't miss anything?

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