Mooncakes "fight" fat and prevent bad cholesterol

Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon! Many people have already pre-ordered mooncakes for the occasion. However, in response to modern people's emphasis on health and wellness, major hospitals have launched health mooncakes designed by nutritionists. Among them, a hospital in Taichung has launched mooncakes that do not contain trans fatty acids, allowing people to enjoy delicious food while avoiding the accumulation of bad cholesterol and preventing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

This year, Tong Hospital launched a mooncake gift box for Mid-Autumn Festival that emphasizes the absence of trans fatty acids, so that people can avoid bad cholesterol while enjoying the delicious food. (Photo provided by Tong General Hospital)

Jiang Tingyu, a nutritionist at Tong Hospital, said that in order to emphasize the deliciousness and smoothness of mooncakes, too much sugar, lard or shortening is added during the production process. However, these oils are mostly saturated fats or trans fatty acids, which can easily lead to an increase in triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood. In particular, "trans fatty acids" formed by hydrogenation of vegetable oils, excessive intake can easily disrupt the balance between good and bad cholesterol, causing arteriosclerosis, blood blockage, and ultimately cardiovascular disease.

In order to enable the public to eat healthily and avoid excessive intake of trans fatty acids, Tong Hospital has launched "Healthy and Replenishing Mooncakes". The main appeal of the mooncakes is that they are trans-fatty-free. The mooncake fillings are made with healthy ingredients such as black sesame, walnuts, brown sugar and mushrooms. Some products use natural trehalose, which has one-third fewer calories than sugar. The crust is also made with germ rich in fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids, making the mooncakes not only delicious but also reducing the burden on the body.

There are four flavors of healthy mooncakes: Matcha Black Sesame Walnut, Brown Sugar Longan Mochi, Snow White Yogurt Cheese, and Germ Mushroom Mung Bean. The production process is entirely handmade and no preservatives are added. Those interested can call the Nutrition Department at (04) 26581919, ext. 59202, 4660, 4661.

In addition, nutritionist Jiang Tingyu also reminded that mooncakes should be enjoyed in moderation, especially those with chronic diseases should consume them in moderation. It is recommended to adopt the "divided eating" method, taste them in several times and not take them as a staple food. In addition, the amount of food for the next meal after tasting the mooncakes should be reduced, and more high-fiber foods should be consumed.