Originally published July 24 2005
Watching trans fat to prevent heart disease
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Trans fatty acids (trans fats for short) have been identified by health experts as causing significant risk for coronary artery disease. Products like commercially-baked cookies and cakes, salty snack foods such as chips, donuts, and the "middle" of Oreos, margarine, vegetable shortening and white bread all contain trans fats.
These latest dietary bugaboos are not only found in traditionally bad for you foods like greasy French fries, but in seemingly innocent treats like Oreo cookies and all-American apple pie.
Products like commercially baked cookies and cakes, salty snack foods such as chips, donuts, and the "middle" of Oreos, margarine, vegetable shortening and white bread and contain trans fats.
Manufacturers use trans fats because they give foods longer shelf life and better taste compared to other fats.
Although they occur naturally in very small amounts in meat and dairy products, most trans fats are manufactured by a process called "hydrogenation," where hydrogen is added to vegetable oils.
This makes the molecule more stable, and turns things like liquid vegetable oil into solids like shortening.
"Trans fats raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood," said Carolyn Crook of Weaverville, a regional heart disease and stroke prevention coordinator based in Hendersonville.
"People I talk to are becoming more aware of trans fats," said Leah McGrath, dietician for the Ingles grocery store chain.
"I avoid them like the plague," said Linda Faulkner of Hendersonville.
"I eat almost no processed foods, and I refuse to eat margarine, even in restaurants."
The American Heart Association dietary guidelines have recommended limiting saturated and trans fat since 2000, but consumers have not been able to easily identify foods that contain trans fat since that information was not provided on the labels.
The Food and Drug Administration will require food labels to list the amount of trans fats beginning Jan. 1, 2006.
Until then, the best way to avoid them is to look for the word "hydrogenated" in the list of ingredients, such as "contains partially hydrogenated vegetable oil.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml