Fabulous Fats in Your Holiday Feast

Happy Thanksgiving! During this time of year, family and friends gather to enjoy rich foods and good company. Even if you typically follow a healthy diet, it can be hard to make wholesome food choices during occasions like these. Our previous post, Five Fabulous Fats, highlighted essential fats made in our bodies. Here we discuss five important fats our bodies can’t make on their own, the foods that contain them, and why you should include a healthy dose of each in your diet. Geranial Credit: iStock. Geranial, a fat some people may not know about, is present in the oils of several citrus plants such as orange, lemon, and lime. Research suggests that its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties reduce inflammation in the body. So, think about adding some freshly squeezed lemonade to the menu. EGCG (Epigallocatechin gallate) Credit: iStock. Are you a tea drinker? EGCG is a polyketide lipid that belongs to a class of flavonoids and is responsible for some positive health effects thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Other studies have also shown it can protect the body from oxidative damage and even reduce cancer risk by reducing the free radicals in your body. It can most easily be found in green and black tea, but trace amounts are also found in foods such as cocoa, onions, plums, and hazelnuts. Gamma-tocopherol Credit: iStock. If you carved a pumpkin this year, did you remember to save the seeds? Gamma-tocoph...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Cellular Processes Source Type: blogs