Nutrition

The Truth About Chocolate: Not Healthiest, But Don't Cut It Out

So the question is, is chocolate healthy or unhealthy? As a dietician, I think that a healthy diet is not only what you eat but your attitude towards food and eating. And if we cut out chocolate or perceive it as unhealthy, it can lead to guilt and shame around eating it. A healthy diet has a variety of foods, including chocolate. Does that mean that you should be eating chocolate at every meal? Absolutely not. But you shouldn't really be eating anything at every meal. In short, yeah, I mean, chocolate-- it's not the most healthful food. But it's still emotionally nourishing, and it's delicious. So don't cut it out. Dark chocolate also has a lot of polyphenols in it, which are antioxidants, which may have health benefits, although those health benefits may be canceled out by the fat and the sugar in the chocolate. And also, you might not like dark chocolate. You might prefer milk, which is totally fine. There are no real unhealthy foods. There are foods that you want to eat less of, or you want to eat them less often. And chocolate may be one of them. But definitely don't cut it out.

Chocolate should not be cut out of a healthy diet, but it should be consumed in moderation. Dark chocolate may have health benefits, but the sugar and fat content may cancel out those benefits.

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Is chocolate healthy or unhealthy? Well, as a dietician, I believe that a healthy diet is not just about what you eat, but also your attitude towards food. Perceiving chocolate as unhealthy can lead to feelings of guilt and shame around enjoying it. A healthy diet includes a variety of foods, and that includes chocolate. Of course, that doesn't mean you should be eating chocolate at every meal, but that applies to any food.

In terms of health benefits, dark chocolate contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that may have positive effects. However, the fat and sugar content in chocolate may counterbalance these benefits. It's also important to note that personal preference matters. If you prefer milk chocolate over dark chocolate, that's perfectly fine.

Ultimately, there are no inherently unhealthy foods. Some foods may be better consumed in moderation or less frequently, and chocolate may fall into that category. But cutting it out completely is not necessary. Chocolate can provide emotional nourishment and is undeniably delicious. So, enjoy it in moderation and without guilt.

What’s the best thing you can do after a meal?

Move After Eating: The Key to Controlling Blood Sugars

Hi, there. Thank you for your question. So the question is, what's the best thing that we can do after a meal? And the answer is to get up and have a look because studies have shown that when we go for a walk or are active in some way versus lying on the couch after eating, it helps to control our blood sugars. Of course, it's not realistic to expect that you're going to be active after every single meal you eat in your lifetime. But doing your best to even go for a short walk after having especially a larger meal is a great idea.

The best thing to do after a meal is to get up and go for a walk. It helps to control our blood sugars and is a great way to stay active.

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The best thing to do after a meal is to get up and be active. Studies have shown that going for a walk or engaging in some form of physical activity helps control blood sugar levels. While it may not be feasible to be active after every meal, making an effort to go for a short walk, especially after a larger meal, is a great idea.

Are there benefits to consuming apple cider vinegar everyday?

The Myth of Apple Cider Vinegar: Don't Believe the Hype!

The question is, are there benefits to consuming apple cider vinegar every day? Apple cider vinegar has become the darling of the wellness industry, but unfortunately, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Acetic acid has been shown in some small studies to reduce blood sugar by a bit after carb-rich meal. Still, I wouldn't suggest taking it for that purpose. I mean, if you eat a salad with an apple cider vinegar dressing with your meal, that is good enough. Aside from that, the benefits that people say come from apple cider vinegar are mostly overblown and mythical. It won't cleanse you or detox you in any way. It doesn't really promote health, and it can really eat away at your stomach lining and your tooth enamel, so I don't really recommend it. The same actually goes for lemon water, it's been completely blown out of proportion by the wellness industry. There's no real benefit to taking them in water. It's just hydrating, but so is regular water. And I think it goes without saying both apple cider vinegar and lemon water do not burn fat, so please don't fall for that one.

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to reduce blood sugar after a carb-rich meal, but no other benefits have been proven. It can also damage your stomach lining and tooth enamel, so it's best to avoid it. Lemon water also has no real benefits and won't help you burn fat.

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Consuming apple cider vinegar every day may not provide significant benefits. While acetic acid in apple cider vinegar has shown some potential in reducing blood sugar levels after a carb-rich meal, it's not recommended to take it solely for that purpose. Incorporating apple cider vinegar as a dressing in a salad is sufficient.

Many of the touted benefits of apple cider vinegar are exaggerated and lack scientific evidence. It does not have detoxifying or cleansing properties, nor does it promote overall health. In fact, regular consumption of apple cider vinegar can damage the stomach lining and tooth enamel, so it is not recommended.

Similarly, the wellness industry has blown the benefits of lemon water out of proportion. There is no real advantage to consuming lemon water over regular water. It's important to note that neither apple cider vinegar nor lemon water can burn fat, so it's best not to fall for such claims.

In summary, the benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar every day are mostly mythical, and it can have negative effects on your health. Stick to a balanced diet and consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

What would be on your grocery list if you were trying to optimize your nutrition on a very tight budget?

Optimize Nutrition on a Budget: Smart Grocery List Tips!

Hi Lane, thanks for your question. The price of groceries is out of control, so I fill you with this one to optimize your nutrition on a budget. I recommend a couple of things. First of all, canned and dried legumes like chickpeas and lentils, which are very versatile and can sub in for meat in most recipes also recommend eggs. They're simple, they're versatile, and they're cost-effective as is tofu. Another cost effective highly. A nutritious protein. And if you buy the tofu that's set in calcium, it's a great source of calcium. As far as grains go, I recommend the bulk store because you can get exactly what you need and how much of it that you need. And you don't have to spend a ton of money, bulk stores, are generally amazing for grains, like rice and quinoa, and also spices, and things like flour, and baking supplies. Lastly, fruits and vegetables. I highly recommend a good variety of fresh canned. Frozen know that canned and frozen vegetables are often actually more nutritious than fresh because they're picked and packed at the peak of ripeness. They don't sit on a track going to their final destination, which causes them to oxidize out some of their nutrients. When you're buying canned items, just make sure they're packed in water. And that items that are frozen are frozen simply without any extra sauces. You can't forget the add-ons just because you want to Eat simply and cheaply, doesn't mean that you need to eat food with no flavor. Try some Curry, pastes some chili paste, some Harissa for your meals, to amp up the flavors. I hope this helped

To optimize nutrition on a budget, I recommend canned and dried legumes, eggs, tofu, grains from bulk stores, fresh, canned, and frozen fruits and vegetables, and add-ons like curry pastes or chili paste to amp up the flavors.

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If you're trying to optimize your nutrition on a tight budget, here are some items to consider for your grocery list. Canned and dried legumes like chickpeas and lentils are versatile and can be used as a cost-effective substitute for meat in many recipes. Eggs and tofu are also affordable and nutritious sources of protein. When it comes to grains, consider buying from bulk stores where you can get the exact amount you need without spending a lot of money. Bulk stores are great for rice, quinoa, spices, flour, and baking supplies. For fruits and vegetables, aim for a good variety of fresh, canned, and frozen options. Canned and frozen vegetables can be just as nutritious, if not more so, than fresh ones as they are picked and packed at their peak ripeness. When buying canned items, choose those packed in water, and opt for frozen items without added sauces. Lastly, don't forget to add flavor to your meals. Try using curry pastes, chili paste, or harissa to enhance the taste of your dishes. Eating simply and affordably doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. I hope these suggestions help!

Bacon's Health Impact: Moderation is Key

So the question is is bacon, unhealthy, you know, I think any food is unhealthy. If we eat too much of it, even carrots, as far as bacon bacon is higher in, saturated fat, then lean proteins, lean animal proteins. However, it can fit into a healthy diet. Absolutely. I would say it's not healthy or unhealthy. It's just a food that maybe want to eat less often than a leaner version of protein. In short. I mean, any food is unhealthy if you eat too much of it, bacon included. So, just limit it and couple times a week and you should be fine. It also depends on the rest of your diet. Are you eating a ton of saturated fat? A ton of animal protein? If so, you want to cut down on all of those things, one food is not going to make us healthy or unhealthy. One food is not healthy or unhealthy. It is your diet as a whole.

Bacon can fit into a healthy diet as long as you limit it and pair it with other lean proteins. Eating too much of any food, including bacon, can be unhealthy so moderation is key.

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The question is whether bacon is unhealthy. In my opinion, any food can be unhealthy if consumed in excess, even carrots. Bacon is higher in saturated fat compared to lean animal proteins. However, it can still be part of a healthy diet, as long as it is consumed in moderation. I wouldn't categorize it as inherently healthy or unhealthy. It's simply a food that may be best enjoyed less frequently than leaner protein options. Ultimately, the overall balance of your diet is what matters. If you consume excessive amounts of saturated fat or animal protein, it's important to cut down on those in general, not just bacon. One food alone does not determine our overall health. It's the entirety of our diet that matters.

Of all fruits you can eat, what are the top three and why?

Eat your fruit and be happy: debunking fruit diet myths

So what are the top three fruits, the ones you'll eat, those are the three top fruits, only ten percent of Americans, get enough, fruits and vegetables. And so I'm not going to recommend top three or bottom three. Anything. I just want you to eat your fruit and eat your vegetables. There are a lot of diets out there that say, you should only be eating berries and green apples, and lemons like who eats a lemon. And that the reason is that That they're so low sugar but honestly fruit is high in sugar like we need to get over that and you know and just accept it that sugar is packaged with antioxidants vitamins and fiber. So it's not just like eating a candy bar. Choose whichever fruits you want and have a serving or two a day and you're good.

Don't worry about picking the top three fruits, just eat whatever fruits you like and have a serving or two a day. Fruits are high in sugar but they also come with antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber.

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When it comes to fruits, it's not about ranking the top three. The important thing is to ensure you're eating fruits and vegetables, as only ten percent of Americans consume enough of them. I won't recommend specific fruits as the top or bottom three. The key is to incorporate a variety of fruits into your diet.

There are diets that suggest only eating certain fruits like berries, green apples, or lemons due to their lower sugar content. However, it's important to remember that fruit does contain sugar. But it also provides antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber. It's not the same as eating a candy bar.

Choose whichever fruits you enjoy and aim to have a serving or two each day. The focus should be on incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet for their overall health benefits.

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Registered Dietitian since 1999, Abby Langer has a passion for all aspects of nutrition. She has won awards for her teaching and has served on her regulatory college’s council. Abby focuses on body respect and intuitive-style eating, and works with brands aligned with her nutrition philosophy. She has extensive experience in media and a dedicated, engaged following. When not working, Abby loves running, discovering new foods, and spending time with her family.

Neither AnyQuestion nor its Experts provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment or otherwise provide professional healthcare services.

Abby Langer, RD