health10 <strong>HER</strong><strong>LIFE</strong>newyork.com
Health BenefitsofIndulgentFoodsBy Candi Smith“Eating a small amount ofchocolate every day mayhelp lower blood pressureand reduce risk for heartdisease.”My sons and I were having a discussion about food,and I posed the question, “If you could only eatone thing for the rest of your life, what wouldit be?” My youngest boy piped up and said, “It would eitherbe Brussels sprouts or asparagus.” While that has changedsomewhat over the years (he is just as quick to eat beef asbroccoli), it did my heart good to hear that he really liked hisvegetables!But it did my heart better to learn that dark chocolate, oneof my favorite indulgent foods, has health benefits. Accordingto the blogsite Indulgent Wellness (http://indulgentwellness.blogspot.com/) hosted by a registered nutritionist, “Eating asmall amount of chocolate every day may help lower bloodpressure and reduce risk for heart disease. German researchersstudied more than 19,000 people for 10 years and found thatthose who ate the most chocolate—around 7.5 grams perday—were 39 percent less likely to have a heart attack thanpeople who ate the least chocolate. So, what does 7.5 gramsof chocolate look like? Well, one Ghirardelli square is about10 grams (53 calories) and one mini Hershey’s Bar is about 9grams (40 calories).”According to Sharon Palmer, another registered dieticianand contributor to the Today’s Dietician website (www.todaysdietitican.com),people are finding that they can be healthyand indulge by following a sort of “yin and yang” philosophy ofeating. They can enjoy their sorbet if it’s got mint to add flavorinstead of excess sugar. And they don’t feel so guilty abouteating a Coldstone Creamery sundae if they have an amplehelping of nuts and fruit mixed in.People are also watching the amount of fat they put intheir bodies, so even standard comfort foods like potato chipsare healthier (many of the baked varieties are better than theirdeep-fried predecessors). The popularity of kettle chips andpita chips are on the rise, while those who might have opted forranch dip in the past are now reaching for roasted red pepperhummus.And the landscape of dining out has changed dramatically.Heavy creams and sauces are passé—instead, people areenjoying calorie-free options such as ginger, wasabi and curryto enhance food’s flavor. Sushi bars have become incrediblytrendy due to the fresh, diverse plates they offer. More dinersare choosing vegetarian fare because chefs are doing a fabulousjob of making their dishes meatless. Seafood menu options arein high demand, as are items with simplicity in their composition.Even most fast-food restaurants, once notorious for thesaturated and trans fat in all their menu items, are jumpingon the health-conscious bandwagon. Instead of fries they’reoffering salad, wraps instead of buns, and bottled water insteadof soda. Again, it’s the “debit and credit” form of eating, usingthe mindset that indulging in a burger is fine if you pair it withfruit or veggies.Companies are also sending the “healthy indulgence” messageloud and clear, both in the products they are peddling andthe marketing campaigns they are pushing. They recognize thatconsumers are trying to lead healthier lifestyles, but they alsorecognize that they like what tastes good. Or, as Palmer putsit, “Flavor is king.” Gone are the days of bland cottage cheeseplatters with sliced tomatoes or peach slices. People prefer tosatisfy their sweet tooth with superfruits such as blueberry,pomegranate, mangosteen and açai. Even Campbell’s nowoffers a way to get your ten daily veggies and fruit in onedrink—welcome to V8 V-Fusion! There are also a few “superfoods” including green tea, probiotics (Activia yogurt is oneexample), whole grains, avocadoes and nuts that have beenhighly touted to provide health benefits.The Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.com) states thatred wine can be heart-healthy for its antioxidants known aspolyphenals which protect the lining of the blood vessels of theheart. The polyphenal getting the most attention is resveratrol(which is derived from the grapes’ skin). Studies have shownthat drinking red wine in moderation (defined as five ouncesa day for women) raises “good” cholesterol, inhibits “bad”cholesterol and reduces the formation of blood clots. Butthey point out that resveratrol can also be found in grape andcranberry juices, and that for some people who have problemscontrolling their alcohol consumption, drinking can lead tobigger health problems than resveratrol prevents.Despite all the hype, Palmer asserts, “Depending on theproduct, these products can still be high in calories, fat, sugarand sodium. As with all foods, moderation is key. Even thoughthese products may be a healthier choice for indulgence, thereis still the tendency to overconsume. Typically, if the productor ingredient has been made into a ‘miracle food,’ then thetendency to overconsume will be there.”<strong>HER</strong><strong>LIFE</strong>newyork.com 11