Know what is trans fat, the hidden killer
Artificial trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. The primary dietary source for trans fats in processed food is “partially hydrogenated oils.”
an unsaturated fatty acid of a type occurring in margarines and manufactured cooking oils as a result of the hydrogenation process Consumption of such acids is thought to increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
Artificial trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. The primary dietary source for trans fats in processed food is “partially hydrogenated oils.” Look for them on the ingredient list on food packages.
Trans fat, also called unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, is a type of unsaturated fat that occurs in small amounts in nature, but became widely produced industrially from vegetable fatsstarting in the 1950s for use in margarine, snack food, packaged baked goods, and for frying fast food.
You should avoid trans fats as much as possible. They’re bad for your heart health.
Trans fats raise LDL “bad” cholesterol and make you more likely to get heart disease. They also lower HDL “good” cholesterol.
Based on the a review of the scientific evidence, the FDA no longer recognizes trans fat that comes from partially hydrogenated oils as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). The ban doesn’t affect the small amounts of natural trans fats found in beef, lamb, and full-fat dairy products. Companies have three years (from 2015) to phase out artificial trans fats from their products.
Food makers once used artificial trans fats to enhance the flavor, texture, and shelf life of processed foods. You might have seen those trans fats listed as “partially hydrogenated oils.”
While food companies slowly remove trans fats from their products, you still need to check labels.
Check the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list. If the Nutrition Facts label says the product has “0 g trans fat,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it has no trans fats. It could have up to half a gram of trans fats per serving. So check the ingredient label to see if “partially hydrogenated oils” is on the list. Those are trans fats.
Read more about trans fat here: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/trans-fat
