Food

11 Doctors Reveal the Foods They'd Never Touch

Read it and weep

by Jenn Sinrich | COMMENT

PHOTO 9/13

Dessert Toppings That Harden Most commonly referred to as Magic Shell, this sweet, crunchy, chocolate-y goodness that you once enjoyed as a child is much worse for you than you probably realized (which is why your mom only allowed it on special occasions).

In a nutshell, these dessert toppings are superhigh in saturated fat. And while current research shows a little saturated fat isn't all that bad for you, the two-teaspoon serving recommendation for most hardenable dessert toppings is over the top, with 7 grams of saturated fat (37 percent of your daily recommended intake). To put that number in perspective, an 85 percent lean, 3-ounce ground beef patty has only 5 grams of saturated fat, which is 25 percent of your daily recommended intake. "While saturated fats aren't quite the evil dietary villain they were just a few years ago, it's always a good idea to replace them with healthier, mono- or poly-unsaturated fats, when possible," says Dr. Adams. "Too much saturated fat has been linked to increased levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol."

Instead, Dr. Adams recommends opting for fresh fruit instead. "It is much lower in calories -- half a cup is around 60 versus the two tablespoons of dessert topping at a whopping 210," he says. "Even making your own topping with a little bit of melted peanut butter and a touch of honey is a great choice -- and the peanut butter gives you a good dose of healthier fat!"

Image via Foodrepublic.com

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