Healthy Fats

August 22, 2016

Pesto is a delicious sauce often made from basil, olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts

Ingredients such as the olive oil and pine nuts are higher in calories, because they have a high fat content.
All of these ingredients have health benefits and can be included in a well-balanced, healthy diet. Ingredients such as the olive oil and pine nuts are higher in calories, because they have a high fat content. However, what makes this food considered “healthy” is that the fat is unsaturated.

These unsaturated fats help reduce heart disease, lower cholesterol levels and have other health benefits when they replace saturated fats in the diet. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature, unlike saturated fats that are solid at room temperature.

When consumed in moderation, unsaturated fat can contribute to decrease inflammation in your body. Lowering inflammation is good because inflammation is associated with a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many other conditions associated with aging.

Now, lets talk about the ingredients of pesto. First , Basil.
Basil plant looks a lot like peppermint,which by the way is related. it’s very fragrant leaves are used as seasoning herb for variety of food. This plant contains nutrients such as 98% of vitamin K, 12% manganese, 9% copper, 6% vitamin A, 5% vitamin C, 4% of calcium, folate and iron, and 3% of omega-3 fats and magnesium. Wow! That’s a lot of nutrients.

Second is Garlic, according to research garlic contains Allicin which has potent medicinal properties. 1 ounce (28 grams) serving of garlic cinatains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium which by the way helps strengthen our immune system, and fiber which helps our tummy digest well.

Third Olive oil, when we think about oil the first thing that pops on our mind is cholesterol and fats, but this kind of oil contains healthy fats that can lowerthe risk of diabetes 2 and of heart diseases. It is also loaded of antioxidants and niutrients.

Last but not the least in our pesto ingredient are nuts, could be pine nuts or wall nuts whichever your heart desires for your pesto. Aside from being packed with protein, nuts have unsaturated fats, which again is good for our body, fiber, vatamin E and more.

So what are we waiting for? let’s go and make pesto. 🙂

Click here on how to make Pesto.