Trans Fats -- Is This What's Killing You?

Hydrogenated Fats: Better Known As Trans Fats

 

What Are Trans Fats?


see definition

Hydrogenated fat (trans fats) are in too much of our foods these days, especially processed foods. These are not naturally occurring fats, but man made fats that are blasted with hydrogen so that it behaves like saturated fat.


Hydrogenation is a chemical process whereby ordinary vegetable oils are chemically altered to make them so hard that they won't melt in your hand. Basically a complete adulteration of the original (healthy) oil occurs. In the effort to make foods last longer in the supermarket, all traces of essential fatty acids are obliterated from processed foods, and hydrogenated fats take their place


This hydrogenation process makes the fat harder, which is why it sticks to your arteries. It's also why it turn hard at room temperature (mono and polyunsaturated fats are usually oils and don't do this). Food manufacturers want it this way because it adds substance and body to the product. On the other hand, healthier oils make things too soft and oily to the touch. For packaging purposes this is not desirable.

Don't be tricked by the labels on food either. A food may be marked 'No trans fats,' however companies are not required to list the amount if it's under 0.5 grams per serving. Might not sound like much but those servings can add up throughout the day. Here's what you can look for:

• Look at the ingredient listing. The nutrition facts label does not always help to identify trans fats, so look at the ingredient listing.
• Watch out for anything that says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated (soybean, canola, cottonseed or other oil).

• Make sure that you read the whole label. Sometimes manufactures try to hide the hydrogenated oils in all the other listings.

What Does This Pernicious Oil Do To Your Body?

It increases your risk of coronary heart disease by raising your level of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering you HDL levels (good cholesterol). This is one of the main effects acknowledged by the medical community. There are other concerns they have but still don't know the full long term effects of consuming this type of fat. All you need to know is the you'll at least be affected in two ways: higher cholesterol, and higher chance for heart disease. This is fact!


To learn more, visit the sites below:


http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/hydrogenated-fats.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/trans-fat/CL00032

http://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.htm