Fatty Acids and Your Health – Goodheal News

Fat and cholesterol comes in many forms through the foods that we eat. Cholesterol made by the body is normally adequate for the body’s daily needs. The excessive damaging cholesterol from diets are the ones that overwhelms the body systems to manage. It ends up clogging the arteries. The standard American diet stands out here and that’s why preventable cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death. The diet is filled with both saturated fats and trans fats. All these promote the elevation of bad cholesterol leading to arteriosclerosis. We also have the Mediterranean diet which is the opposite of the American standard diet. People on these rarely develop cardiovascular diseases in these huge numbers. They consume plant based oils notably olive oil. Fats are made up of fatty acids. These are compounds comprising of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached to them. The difference between the varied groups of fatty acid depends on the concentration of hydrogen in their molecular structures. The most concentrated ones are the saturated fatty acids. The rest are classified under unsaturated fatty acids.

The 3 main groupings of fatty acids

1. Saturated fatty acids

2. Unsaturated fatty acids

3. Trans fatty acids

The saturated fatty acids are normally derived from the consumption of animal products. They are normally solid at room temperature. We derive them from beef, pork, butter, cheese, cream milk and other fatty flesh of animals. Some of the saturated fatty acids include stearic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid and arachidic acids.

Unsaturated fatty acids are found primarily from plants. They are not as saturated with hydrogen as the saturated fats. They are classified into two groupings i.e monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Their difference is in their molecular structures.

Monounsaturated fatty acids help reduce the LDL(harmful) cholesterol in the body. They promote the increase in HDL(good) cholesterol hence help protect against arteriosclerosis. They are found in olive, canola, avocado and peanut oils. Example components are oleic acid in olive oil. They are liquid at room temperature and solidify when refrigerated.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids also help reduce the harmful LDL. They are found in sunflower seeds, corn, safflower and sesame. They are always liquid at room temperature including when refrigerated. An example is Omega 3 fatty acids.

Trans fatty acids are actually unsaturated fatty acids but are produced during the processing of these oils. The heat applied during extraction damages the molecular structures of these unsaturated fats and are therefores labeled as trans fatty acids. Heat processed foods and hydrogenated oils contain them. Examples are hardened cooking fat and margarines that have undergone hydrogenation. Baked products, deep fried foods etc have trans fats. These promote the bad HDL and therefore results in clogging of arteries and arteriosclerosis. Therefore they promote high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, immuno suppression, cardiac problems, stroke and cancer.

Food Medicine vs Drug Medicine

Arthritis War Within the Body: Why We Don’t Heal

• Juice Fasting Heals Your Body – Goodheal NewsMay 3, 2021
  By Alfred Okoko Fasting is a process whereby the body’s digestive system function is suspended by stopping the consumption of solid foods. Usually the digestive process requires a lot of energy from the bodies reservoir. Energy is usually denied to some vital systems such as the immune function, repair and regeneration mechanisms. The energy distribution… Continue reading Juice Fasting Heals Your Body – Goodheal News
• Lemon Recipe for Weight Loss – Goodheal NewsApril 29, 2021
  By Alfred Okoko Lemons are a rich source of phytonutrients. These are compounds that have powerful medicinal properties. It contains a number of organic acids such as malic, acetic, formic and citric. These enhance the medicinal properties of lemon. It also contains powerful antioxidants. It has a number of flavonoids e.g diosmin and hesperidin. Lemons… Continue reading Lemon Recipe for Weight Loss – Goodheal News
• Cinnamon Recipe for Weight Loss – Goodheal NewsApril 28, 2021
  By Alfred Okoko Cinnamon is a common spice that is known to possess a number of health benefits. One of it’s strenghts lies in it’s boosting digestive health and metabolism. It also helps balance the body’s sugar levels. This leads to appetite suppression and helpful in promoting a weight loss program. Excess calories are effectively… Continue reading Cinnamon Recipe for Weight Loss – Goodheal News
• Olive Oil Health Benefits – Goodheal NewsApril 28, 2021
  By Alfred Okoko Olive oil is extracted from the fruits of the olive plant. This plant is common in the Mediterranean. Its oil is used with food and is also used highly for it’s vast medicinal attributes. It contains a host of powerful antioxidants that help prevent it from undergoing oxidation and become rancid. Heat… Continue reading Olive Oil Health Benefits – Goodheal News
• Detoxification For Weight Loss – Goodheal NewsApril 25, 2021
  By Alfred Okoko Detoxification is the process whereby toxins are removed from the body to promote healing and vibrant health. A number of products can be used to fulfill this in weight loss programs. We may use herbal teas, vitamins and minerals to achieve the objective. Some common products that promote weight loss include: Lemon… Continue reading Detoxification For Weight Loss – Goodheal News