{"id":37154,"date":"2026-02-20T08:32:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?p=37154"},"modified":"2026-02-20T08:32:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T13:32:17","slug":"demonized-foods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/demonized-foods\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From butter to steak to whole milk, there are plenty of foods our great-grandmothers ate that slowly dropped off people\u2019s grocery lists in the last few decades, thanks to concerns about saturated fats, trends toward plant-based eating, and the like. Recently, though, the ancestral health movement has many of these foods swinging back into vogue\u2014and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/new-protein-dietary-guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans<\/a> actually recommends folks consume more of these foods.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But is butter really a health food now? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If all of the back-and-forth has left you scratching your head, you\u2019re not alone! Here\u2019s a look at a handful of long-demonized foods that actually offer some pretty legitimate health benefits, plus how to get them back onto your plate in a balanced way.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"font-family: 'Josefin Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase;\"><strong>ABOUT OUR EXPERTS<\/strong><\/em>:<em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/lp\/nutritionists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brittany Michels<\/a>, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., C.P.T., is a certified personal trainer and registered dietitian with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/lp\/nutritionists\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Vitamin Shoppe<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.garagegymreviews.com\/author\/chrismohr\">Chris Mohr<\/a>, Ph.D., R.D., is a registered dietitian and fitness and nutrition advisor at Garage Gym Reviews.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What\u2019s With The Changing Nutrition Advice?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nutritional whiplash feels <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">real <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">right about now, and turns out, there\u2019s good reason for it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNutrition guidance hasn\u2019t so much flip-flopped as it has evolved alongside science, technology, and culture,\u201d explains Brittany Michels, M.S., R.D.N., L.D.N., C.P.T., a certified personal trainer and registered dietitian with The Vitamin Shoppe. \u201cEarly nutrition research (mid-1900s) relied heavily on observational data (read: correlation, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> causation), limited biomarkers (cholesterol was easy to measure, inflammation wasn\u2019t), and a reductionist approach (isolating single nutrients like fat or sodium rather than looking at whole foods). This led to broad recommendations like \u2018avoid fat\u2019 or \u2018lower cholesterol at all costs,\u2019 which unintentionally demonized many whole foods our grandparents ate regularly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thankfully, recent decades have really deepened our understanding of nutrition and how it influences our health, according to Michels. Research methods have become more sophisticated; we\u2019ve learned a lot about metabolism, inflammation, insulin resistance, gut health, and nutrient synergy; focus has shifted to dietary patterns from obsession over specific nutrients, and we\u2019ve recognized that food quality, processing, and context matter just as much as the macros.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These developments have led to just the PR makeover that foods like butter and steak have been waiting for. \u201cWe\u2019ve learned that many traditionally demonized foods were blamed not because they were inherently harmful, but because they were evaluated outside of the context of overall diet quality, processing methods, lifestyle factors, and individual health status,\u201d notes Michels. \u201cIn many ways, modern guidelines are circling back to what earlier generations practiced intuitively: whole, minimally processed foods eaten in balance, rather than fear-based restriction of single ingredients.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Go Ahead And Put These Foods Back On Your Grocery List<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your taste buds will be pleased to know that many previously taboo (but seriously delicious) foods can make their way back into your meals. The following demonized foods can actually do your body good, so long as you incorporate them into your eats in a balanced way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Butter<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a while there, butter was demonized due to its high saturated fat content, and early studies linked saturated fat to heart disease. As a result, \u201cbutter was largely replaced by margarine during the anti-saturated-fat movement,\u201d explains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.garagegymreviews.com\/author\/chrismohr\">Chris Mohr<\/a>, Ph.D., R.D., a registered dietitian and fitness and nutrition advisor at Garage Gym Reviews<em>.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cWe now understand that butter, in small amounts, can fit great into a balanced diet and provides fat-soluble vitamins and flavor that improves satisfaction.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Specifically, \u201cbutter contains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/letter-vitamins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fat-soluble vitamins<\/a> (A, D, E, K2), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/healthy-weight\/metabolism-support\/cla\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">conjugated linoleic acid<\/a> (CLA), and short-chain fatty acids that support gut health,\u201d explains Michels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for the cholesterol concerns? It\u2019s not one-size-fits-all. \u201cGenetics and individual metabolism can influence how someone responds to saturated fat,” Michels says. “Some may see higher cholesterol levels, while others may not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/new-protein-dietary-guidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Are The New Protein Dietary Guidelines For You? Here’s How To Know<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How can one enjoy butter in a more mindful way? \u201cUsing butter sparingly, rather than as a main fat source, is a practical approach,\u201d shares Mohr. Think cooking, baking, or finishing dishes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re mindful of heart health, \u201cpair butter with fiber-rich vegetables and balance your consumption of butter with that of unsaturated fats like olive oil,\u201d Michels suggests. \u201cMonitor personal response, blood lipids, or overall health markers, to guide intake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Eggs<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next up on the list: eggs (specifically egg yolks), which were demonized for their cholesterol content. What\u2019s the problem there? \u201cDietary cholesterol was once thought to raise blood cholesterol and heart disease risk directly,\u201d explains Michels. Now, we know that dietary cholesterol has a relatively small impact on blood cholesterol for most people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whole eggs provide high-quality protein, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.incredibleegg.org\/professionals\/foodservice\/eggs-egg-products\/egg-composition-nutrition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (critical for brain and liver health), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/antioxidants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lutein<\/a>, and fat-soluble vitamins that support eye and metabolic health, shares Mohr. And since most of the egg’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/letter-vitamins\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vitamins<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">minerals<\/a> are found in the yolks, you\u2019re missing out on this important nutrition if you stick to whites alone.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best parts about eggs: They\u2019re super easy to incorporate into your meals. Think egg sandwiches with a slice or two of whole-wheat bread, egg-and-veggie omelets, and even hard-boiled eggs for a quick protein-packed snack.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSome individuals may be more \u2018cholesterol sensitive,\u2019 so monitoring blood lipids is reasonable if you consume eggs regularly,\u201d adds Michels. Thankfully, that\u2019s usually standard practice at your annual physical.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Full-Fat Dairy<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now re-entering the chat: full-fat dairy products. Whole milk, full-fat yogurt, and the like were shunned during the low-fat era for being higher in saturated fat and calories, which folks believed connected them to heart disease and weight gain, the experts say.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the impact of full-fat dairy depends on your overall diet and intake of saturated fat. \u201cResearch now says that full-fat yogurt and cheese can even be beneficial for metabolic health and satiety because they have lots of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\/calcium\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">calcium<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/protein-fitness\/protein-powders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">protein<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/digestion-gut-health\/probiotics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">probiotics<\/a> that support gut and bone health,\u201d notes Mohr.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does balance look like here? Enjoy full-fat dairy in moderation and alongside fruit or vegetables. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFor most adults, one to two servings per day can fit well into a balanced diet,\u201d shares Mohr. \u201cSome people do fine with more, especially if dairy replaces more processed foods, but it works best when total calories, saturated fat intake, and overall diet quality are kept in mind.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FYI: A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.myplate.gov\/eat-healthy\/dairy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">serving<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> looks like one cup of whole milk, full-fat yogurt, or 1.5 ounces of cheese.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cheese and vegetable sticks make a great snack, while a bowl of yogurt and fresh fruit is a satisfying breakfast. Just choose high-quality, minimally processed dairy products. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLook for dairy with a short ingredient list and minimal additives,\u201d explains Mohr. \u201cThe best choices are free from added sugars, artificial thickeners, or extra flavorings.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, \u201cgenetics and individual metabolism affect lipid response, so some people may benefit from moderating intake,\u201d Michels says. Keep an eye on your cholesterol markers over time and incorporate plenty of unsaturated fats if you’re concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Potatoes<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you love your starches, you will be happy to hear that potatoes are back on the menu. \u201cPotatoes were once labeled unhealthy due to their carbohydrate content,\u201d says Mohr. Potatoes also had a frequent association with being high on the glycemic index and were most commonly thought of in their processed forms, like French fries and potato chips, Michels adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, \u201cpotatoes are actually high in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">potassium<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/letter-vitamins\/vitamin-c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vitamin C<\/a>, and resistant starch when cooled,\u201d shares Mohr. ICYMI:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cResistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that avoids digestion in the small intestine and instead ferments in the large intestine,\u201d says Mohr. \u201cThis fermentation feeds good gut bacteria and produces short-chain fatty acids that are great for your gut health and metabolic function. Resistant starch can help improve insulin sensitivity, support digestion, and make you feel full without spiking your blood sugar as much.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/make-carbs-blood-sugar-friendly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Ways To Make Your Carb Consumption More Blood Sugar-Friendly<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While frying may not be the healthiest way to prepare these tubers, they\u2019re plenty delicious boiled, baked, or roasted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re concerned about the carbs, pair your potatoes with<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protein and healthy fats to support blood sugar control, Mohr suggests. \u201cIndividual blood sugar response varies, so some people tolerate potatoes well, others may need portion management,\u201d adds Michels. \u201cExperiment with timing and portion based on your own metabolic response. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most people tolerate about half a cup to one cup per meal\u2014especially when timed earlier in the day or around exercise and paired with protein, fat, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/digestion-gut-health\/fiber\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fiber<\/a> to support blood sugar balance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Red Meat<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meat and potatoes used to be a staple meal combo, but red meat has gotten a bad rap in recent decades. \u201cRed meat was often grouped as universally harmful, largely due to concerns about saturated fat and data about processed meat,\u201d notes Mohr. Concerns about cancer and heart disease have also conflated unprocessed and processed red meat, contributing to concerns, Michels adds. \u201cGenetics and metabolism influence lipid response, but risk is more strongly associated with processed meats, cooking methods, and overall diet quality,\u201d she adds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, \u201clean red meat contains <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\/iron\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">iron<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/minerals\/zinc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">zinc<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/letter-vitamins\/vitamin-b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">vitamin B12<\/a>, which are especially important for energy and muscle health,\u201d says Mohr.\u00a0 It\u2019s also rich in creatine.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To enjoy red meat in a balanced way, Mohr says to choose lean cuts that are minimally processed, keep portions reasonable, and balance your meat with plant foods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA reasonable portion of red meat is about three to four ounces cooked, roughly the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand,\u201d explains Mohr. \u201cThis amount provides protein, iron, zinc, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/c\/vitamins-supplements\/letter-vitamins\/vitamin-b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">B vitamins<\/a> without overdoing the saturated fat or calories. Consuming red meat a few times per week is fine for most people, especially when it is enjoyed with other options across various food groups, including colorful and fiber-rich vegetables, fruit, and others. This balances the meal and supports your heart and gut health.”<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bottom line to remember with red meat: \u201cThere is a big difference between eating a blue cheese-smothered bacon burger smothered with a side of fries and a beer, and eating a smaller portion of lean meat with veggies and a side of potatoes,\u201d Mohr suggests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Salt<\/b><b><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salt may not be a \u201cfood\u201d per se, but the ingredient has certainly come under fire, primarily over concerns about hypertension and cardiovascular disease. \u201cHowever, we now know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/electrolyte-supplements\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sodium needs vary widely<\/a>,\u201d says Michels. \u201cGenetics, activity level, and health status can make some people more salt-sensitive than others. Both extremely low and extremely high intake of salt can be harmful in certain populations, depending on genetics, activity level, and health status.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/low-sodium-anxiety-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Study Suggests Low Sodium May Trigger Anxiety<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if you want to include salt, Michels recommends seasoning your food with it to taste,\u00a0 favor whole foods over processed sources, and adjust based on personal health markers, activity, and sweat loss.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind that \u201cMost excess sodium comes from ultra-processed foods, not salt added at home,\u201d says Michels. \u201cWhile natural salts like Himalayan or Celtic salt contain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/trace-minerals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trace minerals<\/a>, the real benefit comes from using salt intentionally with whole foods rather than consuming large amounts hidden in processed foods.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>The Bottom Line<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foods that were once enjoyed and made a weekly appearance on the family weekend grocery list have been sidelined and labeled as \u201cunhealthy\u201d over the years, striking fear into the hearts, minds, and stomachs of consumers everywhere. However, many of them are making quite the comeback lately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe takeaway is that many \u2018demonized’ foods were never the problem on their own,\u201d says Mohr. \u201cContext, portion size, and overall dietary pattern matter far more than whether a single food fits a past nutrition headline.\u201d However, it is still a good rule of thumb to enjoy some of these foods in moderation, and with a well-rounded plate complete with plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From butter to steak to whole milk, there are plenty of foods our great-grandmothers ate that slowly dropped off people\u2019s grocery lists in the last few decades, thanks to concerns about saturated fats, trends toward plant-based eating, and the like. Recently, though, the ancestral health movement has many of these foods swinging back into vogue\u2014and<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/demonized-foods\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":268,"featured_media":37157,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[7,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nutrition","category-the-latest"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"What\u2019s Good blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1480\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"614\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ashley Martens\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@VitaminShoppe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VitaminShoppe\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ashley Martens\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ashley Martens\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/04d71182d7016c38bd1ab7f43394cf8b\"},\"headline\":\"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\"},\"wordCount\":2009,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"articleSection\":[\"Nutrition\",\"The Latest\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\",\"name\":\"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00\",\"description\":\"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1\",\"width\":1480,\"height\":614,\"caption\":\"demonized foods: buttery steak\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Nutrition\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/nutrition\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\",\"name\":\"What\u2019s Good blog\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Vitamin Shoppe\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1\",\"width\":250,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"The Vitamin Shoppe\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/VitaminShoppe\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vitaminshoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-vitamin-shoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/VitaminShoppe\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheVitaminShoppe1\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/04d71182d7016c38bd1ab7f43394cf8b\",\"name\":\"Ashley Martens\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/51e383d4012dc25e8c9f72ba4d1c167b52baec23ed046b877813b79dd1398355?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/51e383d4012dc25e8c9f72ba4d1c167b52baec23ed046b877813b79dd1398355?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ashley Martens\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/author\/ashleymartens\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog","description":"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog","og_description":"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.","og_url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/","og_site_name":"What\u2019s Good blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/","article_published_time":"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1480,"height":614,"url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ashley Martens","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@VitaminShoppe","twitter_site":"@VitaminShoppe","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ashley Martens","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/"},"author":{"name":"Ashley Martens","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/04d71182d7016c38bd1ab7f43394cf8b"},"headline":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?","datePublished":"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/"},"wordCount":2009,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","articleSection":["Nutrition","The Latest"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/","name":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy? | What\u2019s Good blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","datePublished":"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-20T13:32:17+00:00","description":"Turns out, many of demonized foods of recent decades are finding their way back onto people's plates. Here's how to mindfully enjoy them.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","width":1480,"height":614,"caption":"demonized foods: buttery steak"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/demonized-foods\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nutrition","item":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/nutrition\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"6 Demonized Foods That Might Actually Be\u2026Healthy?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/","name":"What\u2019s Good blog","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#organization","name":"The Vitamin Shoppe","url":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/v-logo.png?fit=250%2C250&ssl=1","width":250,"height":250,"caption":"The Vitamin Shoppe"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/THEVITAMINSHOPPE\/","https:\/\/x.com\/VitaminShoppe","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vitaminshoppe\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/the-vitamin-shoppe\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/VitaminShoppe\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/TheVitaminShoppe1"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/04d71182d7016c38bd1ab7f43394cf8b","name":"Ashley Martens","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/whatsgood.vitaminshoppe.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/51e383d4012dc25e8c9f72ba4d1c167b52baec23ed046b877813b79dd1398355?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/51e383d4012dc25e8c9f72ba4d1c167b52baec23ed046b877813b79dd1398355?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ashley Martens"},"url":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/author\/ashleymartens\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/buttery-steak.jpg?fit=1480%2C614&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8QYGg-9Fg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37154","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/268"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37154"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37154\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37176,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37154\/revisions\/37176"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vitaminshoppe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}