Weight gain and weight loss are based on the amounts of calories you consume. The more calories you eat the more you will have to burn to maintain your weight or loss weight. Despite this, some health foods contain significant amounts of calories, but also provide you with valuable and necessary nutritional contents. Therefore, these high calorie health foods should be added to your diet, but should consumed in moderation and within a overall low calorie diet.
Nuts
Nuts are considered health foods, but because they are made up of 80 percent fat they do contain a significant amount of calories, reports the MayoClinic.com. Nuts have a number of health benefits and are easy to snack on or add to meals. Walnuts, specifically, contain significant amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Other nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids, but walnuts contain the most. Nuts also are beneficial to the health of your heart. Nuts help you maintain a healthy weight despite their high calorie content. In addition, nuts contain unsaturated fats and fiber, both of which help lower your cholesterol and provide you with energy to get through the day.
Steer clear of nuts that are coated in sugar, chocolate or salt. These nuts only add calories and unnecessary sodium to an already high calorie food without any added health benefits. Choose raw nuts such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pine nuts and pistachio.
Avocado
The avocado is a fruit that is high in fat and calories, but is considered healthy because of the type of fat it contains and the vitamins and minerals found in the fruit. People who have high levels of the bad cholesterol or high LDL levels will benefit from eating avocados. Avocado fat is comprised of monounsaturated fat, which is known to improve blood cholesterol levels and decrease inflammation, notes the Harvard School of Public Health.
Avocados also offer significant amounts of potassium and folate, reports The George Mateljan Foundation. Healthy nutrients required for maintaining overall health. Avocados can be eaten alone as a snack, mixed into green salads, added to sandwiches, mixed into salsa or made in to guacamole dip.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter a spread made from peanuts is considered a healthy food and is often used as a significant source of protein in vegetarian and vegan diets. Despite its health benefits peanut butter should be consumed in moderation because it contains high amounts of calories.
Peanut butter can be made with raw peanuts and when eaten in this form it does not contain and added sugars or fats. Peanut butter also comes with added nutrients or in low fat forms. Low fat forms of peanut butter are not generally recommended because they usually contain added sugar to make up for the fat flavors that were lost.
Peanut butter is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which offer cholesterol lowering benefits and overall benefits to your heart. According to The George Mateljan Foundation, peanut butter also contains antioxidants, vitamin E and niacin.
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