Trans Fats - How Are That Impacting Your Health?

Fortunately, it no longer takes any convincing that trans fatty acids are bad for your health. These fats are created by a manufacturing process call hydrogenation. In the process, the liquid oils are made solid by adding hydrogen ions which increases their shelf life and allows them to be used in a variety of products from baked goods to margarines and fast food. Once believed to be the solution to the problem of saturated fats such as lard and dairy fat, studies have now shown that trans fats not only elevate bad cholesterol (LDL), but also decrease good cholesterol (HDL). The research has supported that it can be a contributing factor in the developement of heart disease and several types of cancer. Research that was published in The Journal of American of Epidemiology in 2008, reported that of 20,000 women studied, those with the highest blood levels of trans fats had twice the risk of developing breast cancer than women with the lowest blood levels.

So, do you know how to keep these contrived fats out of your pantry and out of your body? Of course, the safest way is to eat tons of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains starting from scratch. Mother nature's version of trans fat, which is found in dairy and meat, is a different classification and is only found in trace amounts. Go sparingely when selecting processed foods and be aware that there are marketing techniques that will keep you in the dark unless you take a closer look. When a product says "0 grams of trans fat per serving", buyer beware. FDA regulations allow a product to use this claim when the quantity of trans fat is less than 0.5 grams per serving. This leaves a large window for use of this unhealthy ingredient and the cumulative consumption of this fat can still be highly problematic. Look at your incredients label for the wording "partially hydrogenated oil". If those words appear, find another product that doesn't. And once again, the best way to avoid this inflammatory ingredient is to make fresh fruits and veggies your staple!