If you're among the many people trying to lose or maintain weight, you may think of calories as the enemy. Often, high-calorie foods are avoided entirely in weight loss or maintenance diets, and indeed, it's important not to overindulge in calories. However, many high-calorie foods are extremely healthy, and provide a greater level of satiety than the proverbial rice cake. This longer-lasting feeling of fullness can help in curbing cravings and preventing subsequent overeating.
Nuts
Most varieties of nuts, along with legumes like peanuts, may be calorie-dense, but also are abundant in healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, reports Weight Loss Resources.co.uk. Nuts are also high in protein and tend to be quite filling in small portions. When eaten moderately, nuts can be a healthy part of your diet. Calorie King.com lists the following caloric amounts for a 1 oz. serving of nuts: pecans, 196 calories; walnuts, 183 calories; almonds, 169 calories; cashews, 163 calories; and macadamia nuts, 204 calories.
Peanut Butter
If you're like many dieters, you may think that peanut butter is a luxury that is meant to be indulged in only rarely. According to CNN.com, peanut butter has the potential to lower your overall cholesterol, your low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol, and your triglycerides. Moreover, although 1 tbsp. of peanut butter delivers 94 calories, peanut butter isn't associated with weight gain, CNN.com reports. This is possibly because peanut butter is quite filling, even in small amounts.
Fruit Juices
Pure fruit juices are considered an excellent alternative to sodas, and in many cases they are, but this doesn't mean they're low calorie, reports Weight Loss Resource.co.uk. In fact, if you drink fruit juice liberally and without watching your portions, you could easily add hundreds of calories to your daily intake. Weight Loss Resource.co.uk cites the following caloric values for a 1 cup serving of pure fruit juices: orange juice, 87.7 calories; pineapple juice, 100 calories; grapefruit juice, 76 calories; and apple juice, 94 calories. Whole fruits tend to be more filling for fewer calories.
Avocado
Avocado tends to be another diet "no-no" because it is high in calories and fat, but CNN.com emphasizes that the fat in avocados is of the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety. Although Calorie King reports that a cup of avocado contains 234 calories and 21.5g of fat, avocados also contain no cholesterol and are rich in powerful antioxidants, such as lutein, beta carotene and vitamin E.
Member Comments