FAT AND OUR FOOD

Crystals of coconut butter

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Polarised light micrograph of crystals of coconut butter. Coconut butter or oil is a mixture of mainly saturated fats but does include some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats too. There is currently debate around whether eating coconut oil is harmful or beneficial to cardiovascular health and cholesterol levels.

Credit: Spike Walker/Wellcome Images

Acorns

Acorns are the nuts or seeds of an oak tree. They are high in fat as they contain energy stores to support a plant to grow. With the correct preparation, acorns can be eaten by humans. In general, seeds and nuts contain healthy fats..

Credit: Spike Walker/Wellcome Images

Chocolate honeycomb

A scanning electron micrograph showing the interior of chocolate confectionery. This image has been coloured to represent the crunchy honeycomb interior and the chocolate coating. Chocolate products are high in saturated fats and are unhealthy if eaten in large quantities regularly.

Credit: Specious Reasons, Flickr

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False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of a chip. Its structure no longer has the fractal-like pattern seen in raw potato. Instead if forms triangular shapes joined together with deeply grooved and shrivelled surfaces.

Credit: Karen Gustafson/Wellcome Images

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SEM of a chip

Slimming capsule

Illustration of a slimming capsule. Slimming medications often work by reducing appetite, by altering the way fat is digested and absorbed by the body, or by increasing the energy expenditure of the body. Some slimming pills can have dangerous, even lethal, effects, so it’s important they are only taken on the advice of a

medical professional. Credit: Spooky Pooka/Wellcome Images

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Fast-food van

A fast-food van parked in Machynlleth, Powys, Wales. Increased access to fast food, in large part because of the spread of multinational fast-food chains, has helped fuel the rising levels of obesity in many parts of the world.

Credit: Max Blundson/Wellcome Images

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Mothers feeding their babies

Exclusive

Exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal way to nourish a baby from birth to six months, but after that, sometimes breast milk alone cannot provide all of the necessary nutrients. If so, complementary foods can be added to the child’s diet, these mothers are doing.

Credit: N Durrell Mckenna/Wellcome Images

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Skin-fold measurement

A male athlete having a skin-fold measurement at the British Olympic Medical Centre. Skin-fold thickness is measured with special callipers on several parts of the body to estimate the percentage of body fat.

Credit: Wellcome Images

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