Attitudes about dieting are constantly changing, and things that were once thought to be healthy can end up being problematic or the opposite. For example, a “health culture buster dietitian” highlights three foods that get a bad rap but turn out to be very healthy for you.
The views come from Abbey Sharp, who offers “science and sass” on her popular TikTok account with more than 840,000 followers. In her latest video, posted this week, Sharp detailed three “bad foods” she thinks people should actually eat.
First up were potatoes, which have been particularly demonized in recent years in the era of low-carb diets. “Potatoes are not naturally fattening,” he explained, noting that they're actually a great source of slow-digesting carbohydrates with built-in starch fiber that helps regulate blood sugar. Not to mention, they're also a great source of nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6.
Potatoes are actually quite filling, he said, as the root vegetable tops the list of most satiating foods. For comparison, it’s seven times more filling than a croissant.
@abbeysmutfak Diet culture loves to demonize these foods, but they can actually be pretty good for you! Which of these surprised you? #healthyeating #dieticiantfood #potatofood
♬ September – Earth, Wind and Fire
Another food Sharp tackled was the egg yolk, which has always had a bad reputation.
“I think for a long time diet culture has portrayed egg yolks in particular as fatty cholesterol bombs that will harden your arteries overnight,” she continued. “But we now know that dietary cholesterol doesn't actually affect our blood cholesterol that much.”
Egg yolks are also a great source of essential nutrients like vitamin D, choline and contain half the protein of a whole egg, Sharp argued. “So definitely don't avoid the yolk,” he advised.
Finally, the last item on Sharp's list? Full-fat dairy products, or more specifically, fermented dairy products like yogurt. Sharp says they're loaded with unique compounds that may have protective effects on heart health, like conjugated linoleic acid, butyrate, and gangliosides.
“While recent studies have found no association between full-fat dairy products and cardiovascular disease, other studies have shown that full-fat dairy products may reduce the risk of obesity and weight gain,” he added.
“Yeah, I feel like we have to unlearn a lot of things,” Sharp concluded the video by asking his followers which item on the list surprised them the most. So next time you're out for breakfast, don't pay extra for an egg white omelet; and while you're at it, grab a potato or yogurt parfait.