5 Foods That Get a Bad Rep

Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan aren’t the only ones getting a bad rep.

Here are a few foods that may have gotten a bad reputation in the past, but new studies have shown how beneficial they are:

1. PEANUT BUTTER
“Negatives”: high in fat and calories
Positives: peanuts have been shown to lower the risk of coronary heart disease and lower total and “bad” cholesterol. Also, a little fat before meals or for a snack will help control your hunger.

2. EGGS
“Negatives”: high in cholesterol
Positives: eggs have the highest concentration of choline, a nutrient critical for healthy brain function. Recent studies have shown that eggs also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which are antioxidants that keep eyes healthy, prevent blindness and muscular degeneration. In summary, eggs are a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food that makes a great contribution to any menu.

3. COFFEE
“Negatives”: coffee is only a caffeine source
Positives: coffee has hundreds of chemicals in it, which may be the reason for its negative press in the past. But newer studies have shown that coffee has many benefits, such as improving memory, and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Just avoid multiple cups at one time to prevent the caffeine jitters!
4. AVOCADOS
“Negatives”: too high in fat
Positives: avocados are high in monounsaturated fats (the heart-healthy kind). Initial studies have shown that avocados have cancer-preventing properties. This is most likely due to the overwhelming amounts of antioxidants present in avocados.

5. MUSHROOMS
“Negatives”: no nutritional benefits
Positives: mushrooms boost immune system function, suppress breast and prostate cancer, and have a high concentration of antioxidants, studies show. Interestingly, one medium Portobello mushroom has more potassium than a glass of OJ. Who would have thunk?!?

Information comes from CNN.com's article "5 foods that should have a place in your diet"