You’re on your way home from a hard day at work, eating your lunch alone at your desk. Suddenly, your phone rings. It’s your wife, asking you to pick up some milk on the way home. You tell her you’ll be there in a minute, but you pull off at the next café to order a large cinnamon roll to go with your coffee. As you sit and eat, you think about how stressed out you were that day at work. It wasn’t that long ago that you were worrying about whether or not you’d have enough money to pay your bills. Now, here you are, eating a sweet treat and feeling somewhat relieved. That’s the power of food!
There are many foods that can give you a moment of happiness, just like this example. Some foods are known to increase blood flow to the penis, which can result in an improvement in erections for men who eat them (1). There are also several foods that have been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. One such food is blueberries. What’s more is that these foods have also been found to boost natural killer cell activity, which helps the body’s immune system fight off illnesses (2). So, next time you’re feeling a little down, eat some of these delicious foods and see how great you’ll feel!
The Great Blueberry Muffin Debate
While we’re on the subject of foods that lower cholesterol and blood pressure, it’s worth mentioning that there is vigorous debate among nutritionists as to whether or not eating muffins, cakes, and other sweet foods actually raises cholesterol and blood pressure or if it’s just the effect of addictive carbohydrates. There is also the sticky wicket of whether or not eating sugar-rich foods causes or exacerbates diabetes. For the purposes of this article, we’ll settle on the effect that they have on blood pressure and cholesterol. So, if you’ve been advised by your doctor to watch your cholesterol levels, avoid all fried foods, and opt for more fruits and veggies, you can feel better assured that you’re heading in the right direction.
The Great Cinnamon Roll Debate
Moving along, you continue eating until you feel full. The server brings you a fresh cup and you place it next to your computer station. As you sit there, sipping your coffee and munching on your roll, you begin to feel a little sluggish. That’s no problem – you pop open one of the little bottles of aspirin that you carry around with you, and take a few pills. But, you know what? You feel better than you have in a long time. It wasn’t that long ago that you were stressed over money, but now, you’re content.
Here’s the deal: cinnamon rolls are among the most unhealthy foods that exist. They’re loaded with cholesterol, saturated fat, and refined flour. If you really want to improve your health, eat something else instead. What’s more is that too much sugar can actually do more harm than good. That’s why you should avoid foods with added sugar and opt for healthier options, such as green smoothies, when possible. Now, if you’re going to indulge in some of the richer culinary delights that this world has to offer, make sure that it’s organic and comes from a family-owned farm. Otherwise, you might just be harming your health and that of your family.
So, what are some of the foods that can give you a moment of relief, a sugar boost, and great taste? Let’s take a look.
The Healthy Snack Debate
First off, let’s discuss healthy snacks. We need to agree that a snack is something that you eat between meals to provide energy for the day. Many snacks are high in fiber, which fills you up without the usual sugar crash. Some examples include grapes, apples, and carrots. When you eat these foods, you’re not likely to reach for something with added sugar because they don’t taste as good as junk food. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to boost your energy levels, opt for a healthy snack instead of a sugar-rich coffee drink or pastry.
The Great Coffee Debate
Next on our list is coffee. Let’s discuss the pros and the cons of coffee. First off, the pros. It’s a great source of caffeine, which gives you a boost of energy. It also provides antioxidants, which can protect your cells from damage due to free radicals. These are unstable molecules that can lead to cell damage and premature aging. Coffee inhibits the growth of prostate cancer and helps shrink tumor masses in animals with cancer (3). It also aids in the prevention of liver cancer in animals (4). Let’s not forget about the fantastic euphoria that it can give you. Coffee has been found to be a natural stimulant, which is also effective in treating mental disorders. People who suffer from depression and anxiety disorder tend to experience a greater benefit from drinking coffee (5).
Now, the con side. Coffee is high in caffeine, which can cause problems for people who are sensitive to this ingredient. It also contains tannins, which give it a bitter taste. Many people who are allergic to coffee have reported severe reactions, such as hives, skin rashes, and in some cases, anaphylaxis (6). Coffee also contains a substance called cafestol, which can cause blood clots (7). This is why it’s not a good idea to eat foods containing coffee after you’ve had a stroke, heart attack, or other thromboembolic event. If you’re going to indulge in this wonderful drink, make sure that you’re doing so in a safe way and that you’ve got your health concerns in mind.
The Great Dark Chocolate Debate
Finally, we come to the most debated food on this list, dark chocolate! Let’s discuss the pros and the cons of dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, which provide benefits to your health in numerous ways. First off, they can reduce arterial stiffness, which is the hardening of the arteries (8). This can lead to heart disease and other illnesses. Second, dark chocolate can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels (9). Third, it can increase natural killer cell activity (10). So, what are some of the pros? Let’s take a look:
The con side. Dark chocolate is also high in sugar. If you already have a health problem, such as high cholesterol, you might not want to opt for food with added sugar. The sugar in dark chocolate can also cause tooth decay if you don’t brush your teeth after you eat it. So, if you’re going to indulge, make sure that it’s in a form that is less harmful. One option is to eat pieces of dark chocolate rather than drinking it, which can help reduce the impact that it has on your health.
Eat What Makes You Happy
At this point, you’re probably starting to notice a theme in our list. Most of the foods that we’ve discussed have something great to offer. It’s not always about lowering cholesterol or blood pressure. Sometimes, it’s just about experiencing a moment of happiness or pleasure when you eat certain foods. Just remember: foods are important, but so is how you feel when you eat them. If you feel good, you’ll likely be happier, which can lead to greater productivity and less complaints about your health. So, have at it!