Although often difficult to find in the marketplace, the leaves of the quinoa plant are edible, with a taste similar to its green-leafed relatives, spinach, chard and beets. Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids.
Body fat is important for a wide variety of body functions. Having too little body fat may increase your risk for heart disease, gastrointestinal problems and damage to your nervous system, Also, the University of Pennsylvania adds, you incur the risk of organ shrinkage.
But trans fats also slow down your body's ability to burn fat. They have an altered shape and make your biochemistry run funny, Hyman says, explaining that trans fat binds to fat and liver cells and slows metabolism. Eating trans fat can also lead to insulin resistance and inflammation, both of which cripple metabolism and can cause weight gain.