Trans Fats - Read Your Labels!

Since my mom had a heart attack a few months back, I've been paying much closer attention to the things I've been eating. I guess that sort of trauma kind of puts things into perspective for you. One thing of which I've become keenly aware is trans fats. Thought I'd make a post about these, just in case anyone might be interested in learning about yet another poison we're being fed.

Trans fatty acids are created when oil undergoes a process called hydrogenation. During this process, hydrogen atoms are introduced into unsaturated fats. This results in a saturated fat which doesn't melt as easily, and has a longer shelf life.

You can find residual amounts of natural trans fat in dairy and meat. These don't seem to have the same negative effects as manufactured trans fats, which are extremely difficult to avoid. You'll find them in baked goods, cookies, fast food (especially), processed items, and some candies. Even supposedly healthy foods like breakfast cereals and vitamin-laced waffles are chock full of the stuff.

The cooking and shelf-life benefits of trans fat are far outweighed by the dangers. Not only are they many times worse for you than plain ol' unsaturated fat, the body also has no use for them. A nutritional specialist has told me that eating them is the equivalent of plastering cement into your arteries, and it's even more difficult to get them out than regular saturated fat.

Here's the kicker. If your nutritional label (or even the front of the box) claims "0g trans fats," read again. Should anything in the ingredients state "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" oil, you've got trans fats. The government allows food companies to claim 0g trans fats if the item contains 0.5g or less, as it's "nutritionally insignificant."

The problem here is that there is no "nutritionally insignificant" amount of trans fat. The FDA won't even give a safe daily amount for consumption, except that you should eat as little of it as is possible. Studies have shown that just 1g of the stuff eaten on a daily basis increases risk of heart disease by 20%. Millions of people consume this substance every day without any knowledge of the dangers. Those who are aware are probably trusting that 0g featured prominently on the front of the box.

Some are waking up to the dangers of trans fat. New York City and Philadelphia have already enacted bans on this type of fatty acid, with other areas on the way. Denmark has virtually banned it, and Canada is preparing to regulate it.

Worst of all, it doesn't have to be this way. Food companies are poisoning you so that they can literally save a few pennies. Just through that small additional expenditure on their part, they could use oils which would present none of these harmful effects.

How is this legal? I don't know. If a company were feeding us small amounts of rat poison, even though it doesn't kill us immediately, you can bet they'd be in trouble.

but after a high cholosterol reading I started watching saturated and transfat about six months ago. Amazing how much fat there is when you pay attention. Coffe was one big source. I repaced the morning doughnut with peanuts before noticing how many grams of saturated fat in a serving. It's everywhere.

in moderation, mind... but good just the same

:hi:

...you can remove the stuff that raises cholesterol.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2029499&dopt=Abstract
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070614162223.htm

These are just a couple of reports, but the data have been around for more than a decade.

I didn't realize that boiled coffee had an effect on cholesterol (although drip apparently does not)

They don't have to change the recipe at all...

.... the way of avoidable risky behavior.

I have, as a result, become that nasty old sanctimonious scold we all hate.

Don't smoke.

Exercise

Don't smoke

Drop the lard you're carry on your ass, and around your middle.

Don't smoke

Avoid sugary and salty crap.

Don't smoke