Top 5 Things That Are Surprisingly Good For You

Are you sick of being told what to eat, drink, and do? Then this is your lucky day!
Here are five things that people tell you are bad but actually have healthy aspects to them.

5: Ice Cream

Ice-cream is a low GI (glycemic-index) food.
This means that it is a slow sugar release food that keeps you satisfied for a longer period of time than a high GI food.
For that reason, you are less likely to binge after eating ice-cream.
75 grams of Ben and Jerry’s Cookies and Cream ice-cream contains only 114 calories compared to a slice of cheesecake with 511 calories.
Furthermore, ice-cream is made of milk which contains many essential nutrients and vitamins. 1 cup of milk contains up to 30% of a man’s daily recommended intake.
Other nutrients in ice-cream are biotin, iodine, potassium, selenium, vitamins a, b12, D, and K.
Studies show a possible link between milk consumption and a lowered risk of arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and colorectal cancer.

Interesting Fact: In the 5th century BC, the ancient Greeks sold snow cones made with fruit and honey in the markets of Athens.

4: Dirt

Throw away the rubber gloves! Dirt is back in vogue!
Remember the days where kids played in dirt, food was served with bare hands, and straws didn’t come in individual wrappers?
It turns out – they were healthier days than our modern sterile ones!
Early childhood exposure to bacteria, viruses, and parasites has been found to give a massive boost to our immune systems,
making us less likely to get sick when we do come in to contact with various bugs.
Research has found that children with a dog in the home are less likely to suffer allergies, and regular social interaction can reduce the risk of leukemia by up to 30%. Those are statistics not to ignore – so throw away the anti-bacterial cleaners and get dirty!

Interesting Fact: There are as many as 10 times more bacterial cells in the human body than human cells! The vast majority of them are harmless.

3: Stress

Stress is universally considered a bad thing – in some cases people have successfully won lawsuits against companies for work-related stress.
But, what most people don’t know is that a little stress goes a long way to making us healthier.
In short doses, stress can help boost the body’s immune system.
In the first stage of stress (the “alarm” stage – often known as the “fight or flight” response) the body produces cortisol – a stress fighting hormone which has many benefits to the body.
Stress can give a feeling of fulfillment – when this is the case it is called “eustress” as opposed to “distress”.

Interesting Fact: The term “stress” and the mental properties of it was not known before the 1950s. Until that time it referred simply to hardship or coercion.

2: Beer

The moderate consumption of beer has been associated with the lowered risk of head disease, stroke, and mental decline.
In addition, brewers yeast (used in the production of beer) contains many nutrients that are carried through to the final drink:
magnesium, selenium, potassium, phosphorus, biotin, and B vitamins. For this reason, beer is sometimes referred to as “liquid bread”.
In 2005 a Japanese study found that low-alcohol beer may contain strong anti-cancer properties.
Contrary to popular belief, a “beer belly” or “beer gut” is not produced by the beer, but rather overeating and lack of exercise.

Interesting Fact: Beer is one of the oldest beverages – dating back to the 6th millennium BC.

1: Chocolate

As a result of recent research into chocolate and health,
it appears to be something of a panacea (cure-all) – coupled with the great taste and mood enhancing properties,
it might be seen as a wonder drug! Cocoa or dark chocolate improves the overall health of the circulatory system,
it stimulates the brain, prevents coughs, prevents diarrhea, and may even be an anti-cancer agent.
Like coffee, chocolate is toxic to many animals.
A BBC study indicates that melting chocolate in your mouth increases brain activity and the heart rate more intensely than passionate kissing,
with the effect lasting four times longer after the activity ends. Eating regular small quantities of chocolate reduces cholesterol and the chances of a heart attack.
Sign me up for some of that medication!!