5 Bad Things That are GOOD for You – By Elena Verigo

We live in an aggressively health-obsessed world. A world that is pretty unkind.

We are made to feel miserable by the scary messages about our unhealthy habits.

We are pressured to change our whole lifestyle to be thinner, have whiter teeth and lower cholesterol. There are warnings about this and fears about that. The result is – some of us become completely OCD about what we eat and do. Others give up thinking why bother. Yet some “bad” things are actually good for you.

So relax and enjoy the forbidden fruit. You may actually end up being healthier, happier and nicer to other people.

Sugar

It’s bad for your teeth and your waist line. A definite no-no. Really? Sugar is full of minerals and nutrients such iron, calcium and phosphorus (from sugarcanes and beet that are used to make sugar). It is less processed than other industrially produced sweeteners which are bad for your digestion.

Your brain simply cannot function without sugar.

Sugar can give your instant energy when you are most desperate for it. And….(a well know fact)….there’s nothing better than chocolate to heighten your mood! Obviously, the “good” sugars are best. You can get them from honey, bananas, prunes, agave syrup, and pineapples.

Coffee

It stains your teeth, increase your heart rate, and makes you sweat. You will surely die if you don’t stop drinking coffee! Or so it seems if you listen to all the health advisers. Yet coffee contains some essential nutrients, including Potassium, Magnesium, Niacin,

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin B5, Manganese as well as antioxidants. It may protect you from Alzheimer’s, some types of cancer, Parkinson’s and type II diabetes. It is good for your liver. And yes it can simply improve your mood, concentration and give you energy. Obviously, drinking five gallons of coffee a day is unlikely to have any of the desired effects. But when enjoyed in moderation, coffee is a treasure chest of health benefits.

Alcohol

It seems we’ve gone overboard with our fight against alcohol. It’s evil, you mustn’t have it, they say. Yet many people continue to get alcohol poisoning regularly. Because this is what a hangover actually is. The art and culture of moderate alcohol consumption has almost disappeared. And with it, the many benefits of drinking quality alcohol in small quantities.

Good alcohol increases the levels of ‘good’ cholesterol in your body which protects you from heart disease. It decreases the chances of developing dementia, gallstones, diabetes and common colds. These are medical facts. Just google.

Fat

No, a bag of French fries for breakfast is not cool. But we are not talking nasty industrially produced trans fats here. It’s about healthy fats and oils that your body loves. Omega-3 fatty acids are crucial to your health well-being. And, as the name suggests, you can only get it from good fats.

Oily fish, avocado, nuts and seeds, olive oil – all high in fat – are your best friends. How come?

The health benefits include decreased risk of breast cancer and stroke, and lower cholesterol. Foods containing good fats help you get stronger bones and better brain function. Switching from bad to good fats can actually help with weight loss.

Lack of physical exercise

Some of the spiritual teachers say that sleep is the best type of meditation. Conventional meditation – sitting down motionless – is also about rest. We are exhausted because we don’t get enough of that. Then we get sleepy, impatient and grumpy. Simply having a lay-in and not doing much is the best therapy for your mind and body.

Your body needs time to recover and repair itself – it does that best when you are resting.

Sleep and rest are crucial for weight loss, skin health and pretty much every other part/organ of your body. A nice stroll in the park is good for you. Stressing your body by training incessantly is not. It may lead to fatigue, sports injuries and increased (unhealthy) demands on your heart, joints and overall health.

The moral is – go and enjoy that strong cup of coffee with a generous serving of full-fat milk! Put your feet up, do nothing. Make this your regular routine.

You may end up looking healthier (and certainly a lot happier) than a friend who only ever eats organic veggies and spends half their life in a gym. We’ve got to be gentle on ourselves. Violence to one’s body in the race to perfection will never lead to peace in the world. 

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Author Bio

Elena tries to eat healthily and does gentle exercise cycling to work. She certainly doesn’t see any point in living a life deprived of coffee, peanut butter and an occasional cup of hot chocolate with a shot of cognac.

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