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For your health

Reviewed by: Dietician Larisa Páez

	You can find it in one or more of Cosecha Dorada’s® products
	Is not found in Cosecha Dorada® prodcuts

Whole wheat or macrobiotic product

A whole wheat or macrobiotic product is made with whole grain (not refined or processed) which means the food is as close as possible to its original form. Studies show than many of the benefits that are gained by consuming whole wheat food comes from its high fiber content.

Fats

Saturated

At room temperature, these are solid fats, the majority of which come from animals (meat, milk, eggs) and some vegetable products (palm or coconut oil). They are associated with high levels of blood cholesterol, which increase the risk of coronary disease.

Unsaturated

At room temperature, these are liquid fats found mainly from fish and vegetable oil. The substitution of saturated fats by poly-unsaturated fats (corn, sesame seeds, soy) and mono-unsaturated fats (peanut oil and other seeds) can lower ("bad") LDL blood cholesterol levels and can also elevate the level of ("good") HDL cholesterol.

Transfats

They are formed when hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oils in order to make them into solids at room temperature. Some transfats can be found naturally in animal products, such as butter, milk, cheese and meat.

Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy and soft substance that is found all over the body. It comes from 2 sources: our body (the liver produces it) and it is also found from animal products in our diet. “Bad” cholesterol is called LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and it is the kind that clogs our arteries. Diets that are high in saturated fats and transfats increase “bad” blood cholesterol levels. High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk for coronary disease. “Good” cholesterol is called HDL (high-density lipoprotein); these lipoproteins destroy the “bad ones” and carry them to the liver, where they are eliminated.

Dietetic fiber

Is a component of certain vegetable-based foods that our body cannot digest. Because of this, fiber doesn’t produce calories yet fulfills a very important role in an individual's well-being. There are 2 types of fiber: soluble and insoluble.

SOLUBLE FIBER
Among its most important functions is that it lowers blood cholesterol levels by 5% and delays blood glucose absorption. This type of fiber retains water and turns into gel during digestion. On the other hand, it delays digestion and the absorption of nutrients from the stomach and the intestine. It can be found in foods like oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, fruits (citrus fruits like apples), strawberries and many vegetables.

INSOLUBLE FIBER
Is the part of vegetable foods that are not soluble in a watery solution. This type of fiber seems to accelerate the passage of foods along the stomach and the intestines and adds volume to the feces. It is therefore useful in improving colon peristalsis and for this reason is considered important in stopping and preventing constipation and diverticular disease. It is found in foods such as whole wheat and whole grain products, vegetables and wheat bran.

Both types are important in our diet and are beneficial to the digestive system by completing different functions and helping to maintain regularity. Fiber consumption lowers the risk of constipation, diverticulus, obesity, colon cancer and cardiovascular disease.

References:

LAST UPDATE : March-2008