You may be surprised about how healthy certain foods are
A leading nutritionist has offered some guidance on maintaining a balanced diet. The health expert addressed some widespread misconceptions about snacking and making sensible food choices.
Abby Coleman works as a performance nutritionist at The Edge. The health group runs a human performance and nutrition lab in Leatherhead, Surrey, which serves elite athletes and professional sports stars.
She issued some guidance around certain foods that can be perceived as unhealthy, yet can actually be beneficial in moderation. One example she pointed to is eggs. Ms Coleman explained: “Egg yolks are high in cholesterol, but for most people, dietary cholesterol has minimal impact on blood cholesterol levels.
“Observational studies linking eggs to heart disease are inconclusive.” She outlined their nutritional benefits: “Eggs remain a nutrient-dense food, offering high-quality protein, essential vitamins (including D and B-complex), choline, and antioxidants that support satiety, overall nutrition, and health.”
Healthy cholesterol boost
Another food that might come as a surprise for its health benefits is chocolate. Ms Coleman noted: “Chocolate itself should be eaten in moderation, but dark chocolate can be ‘good for you’.
“Try to stick to 70 per cent or more cocoa and you can benefit from it being rich in antioxidants, which protect our cells from damage, a ‘boost’ to HDL cholesterol levels (the ‘good’ cholesterol)”. She added that eating some dark chocolate may also improve your cognitive function.
Ms Coleman issued a warning regarding snacking. She said: “People can often underestimate how much they snack on foods like crisps, biscuits and pastries.
“They’re easy to eat because they’re high in sugar, salt and saturated fat so our taste buds love them, but these types of snacks are low in fibre and protein, and don’t keep you feeling full.” The real danger, she stressed, emerges when unhealthy snacking becomes habitual.
Weight gain risk
The specialist warned: “The danger comes from consistent overeating. This can lead to weight gain, increased cholesterol levels (from too much saturated fat), increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and elevated blood pressure.”
She emphasised that the problem isn’t snacking itself, but rather the potential for consuming too much. Ms Coleman said: “Choosing snacks which are low in nutrition and high in saturated fat, sugar, and/or salt and, and eating them mindlessly, can be a problem.
“Instead of avoiding snacking, choose options which align with your goals such as health, performance, and body composition.”
