Guest guest Posted November 13, 2003 Report Share Posted November 13, 2003 THE SCOOP ON TRANS FAT You can barely pick up the newspaper these days without reading something about Trans fat. Here’s a primer for you: What they are: Trans fats are made from liquid fats in which the natural bends in the molecule have been straightened out by a process called partial hydrogenation. In this process the essential fatty acids change their biological function. Developed in the late 19th century in Germany as a way of manipulating liquid vegetable oil, partially hydrogenated fats (trans fats) rapidly entered the food supply, largely in the form of solid shortenings such as margarine and Crisco. Hydrogenation increases shelf life and flavor stability as well as converting the liquid oil to a solid. What they do: Dietary trans fats raise blood cholesterol levels, in particular LDL ( " bad cholesterol " ), increasing the risk of coronary heart disease. Trans fats also reduce HDL ( " good cholesterol " ) and increase triglycerides, conditions associated with insulin resistance. Because essential fatty acids reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, partial hydrogenation increases that risk by destroying essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. According to Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, some short-term studies show that trans fat increases insulin resistance, the underlying mechanism for type 2 diabetes. How to find them: By Jan. 1, 2006, the nutritional facts labels on foods and dietary supplements must contain a line that lists the amount of trans fat in the product. Although some manufacturers have already started to include trans fat information, currently there is no requirement that they do so. Trans fats are found in most (but not all) margarines, crackers, cookies, mass-produced pastry products, snack foods, frozen dinners, breads, some cereals, the oil used for deep-frying in fast-food restaurants and other foods. You can most easily determine if the foods you are eating contain trans fats by looking at the list of ingredients in a food product to see if there is vegetable shortening or vegetable oil described as " partially hydrogenated. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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