10 Junk Foods That May Actually Be Good For You

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10 Junk Foods That May Actually Be Good For You

Pixabay | connie_worldtraveller_ (Instagram)

You ALWAYS hear that junk food is bad for you. To be fair, putting "junk" beside food doesn't sound appealing, but the foods themselves are absolutely delicious.

According to health experts, many junk foods have surprisingly positive health benefits.

Here are 10 junk foods you can never get enough of, and that may not be the worst thing in the world.  

1. Graham Crackers

Compared to many other delicious cookies, Graham Crackers are one of the healthiest options. When the crackers were first invented, Graham processed the flour in a way that preserved the whole wheat. There's more sugar in them now than before, but the flour is still processed the same.

2. Blue M&Ms and Gatorade

Red food coloring is the devil of food dyes, but the blue may not be so bad for your health. According to research done at the University of Rochester Medical Center, blue food dye may be helpful in reducing damage caused by spine injuries.

3. Ramen

What would almost every kid in university eat if ramen noodles didn't exist? They're filled with carbs and salty seasoning, but it doesn't mean they're the worst thing. If you cook these noodles with egg and veggies, you'll be making a hearty meal.

4. Cheese Whiz

Trans fats are bad for you, but there's one exception. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is found in Cheese Whiz, is a natural trans fat that has anti-cancer properties.

5.  Popcorn

These puffy whites don't seem like they have much nutrition, but they're actually loaded with fiber and antioxidants that can protect against heart disease.

6. Black Licorice

Love it or hate it, there's two kinds of black licorice, and one is beneficial for your health. Black licorice made from actual licorice root has been used for centuries to treat digestive issues, like ulcers. In Japan it's even been used to help people lose weight.

7. Pizza

Enough with the naysayers! Pizza is loaded with tomato sauce that has lots of vitamins and cheese, which is a strong source of calcium. If you make your own pizza, even better, because then you can make it with quality ingredients like whole wheat crust and your favorite veggies.

8. Dark Chocolate

They may taste bitter, but the results will be sweet. Dark chocolate contains protein and flavonoids, which is a compound that's great for your heart.

9. Butter

It was super upsetting when a bunch of research came out basically prohibiting us from smothering our favorite thing on toast. Luckily some positive studies have shown that the fat in butter helps our bodies absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K.

10.  Wine

This one is certainly not a myth! A glass of wine has some great long-term health benefits.

Wine contains a chemical called Resveratrol, which is also found in grape skins, and can protect against heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's.

Which "junk food" is your favorite?

Moojan has been a writer at Shared for a year. When she's not on the lookout for viral content, she's looking at cute animal photos. Reach her at moojan@shared.com.