Trans Fat Tidbits
By now I'm sure you've heard that Trans Fats are "bad" fats; these heart disease promoting fats form when oils are partially hydrogenated. Food companies have been seemingly madly trying to reformulate their products so that the trans fat amount (at least on the label) reads, "zero."
[Keep in mind that the FDA allows companies to claim "zero" grams of trans if a food has up to .5 grams of trans fat per serving]
Well, luckily the nonprofit Center For Science In The Public Interest is on the case. They conducted an admittedly limited supermarket survey and found that at least 150 different products (in the categories of stick margarines, pot pies, fruit pies, microwave popcorn, frozen pizzas, pastries and donuts, cookies and other convenience foods) still have a day's worth of trans fat. The American Heart Association advises Americans to consume no more than 2 grams of trans fat per day.
So what about natural trans fat?
Trans fats are found naturally in meat, butter, milk and cheese and they do have a different chemical structure than the ones that are created when oil is partially hydrogenated. Most of the natural trans we get is thought to come from milk that contains fat. If you tend to choose skim milk and lean meats, chances are pretty good that you are getting very little natural trans.
Stay tuned on whether some forms of natural trans fats, such as CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) may actually be helpful. More research needs to be done.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: transfat, naturaltransfat, cla, nutrition
[Keep in mind that the FDA allows companies to claim "zero" grams of trans if a food has up to .5 grams of trans fat per serving]
Well, luckily the nonprofit Center For Science In The Public Interest is on the case. They conducted an admittedly limited supermarket survey and found that at least 150 different products (in the categories of stick margarines, pot pies, fruit pies, microwave popcorn, frozen pizzas, pastries and donuts, cookies and other convenience foods) still have a day's worth of trans fat. The American Heart Association advises Americans to consume no more than 2 grams of trans fat per day.
So what about natural trans fat?
Trans fats are found naturally in meat, butter, milk and cheese and they do have a different chemical structure than the ones that are created when oil is partially hydrogenated. Most of the natural trans we get is thought to come from milk that contains fat. If you tend to choose skim milk and lean meats, chances are pretty good that you are getting very little natural trans.
Stay tuned on whether some forms of natural trans fats, such as CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) may actually be helpful. More research needs to be done.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: transfat, naturaltransfat, cla, nutrition
Labels: nutrition
6 Comments:
The public needs to be more informed about trans-fats and their harmful effects. There should be a disclaimer on the label.
The dangers of trans fats is nothing new. Back in the seventies, when I subscribed to Prevention magazine, there was already a warning in the magazine on the effects of trans fats. BUT I loved my Imperial Margarine so continued with margarine instead of butter which I always ate growing up because we had our own milk cow and made the butter.
wake up people and start watching what you eat. how many heart disease cases is it going to take to realize. something needs to be done to the food makers. smokers need to wake up too.
OXIDIZED PUFA VS ALL-TRANS IN FRIED FOODS: which is worse?
In surface fried and re-deepfried foods, the unsaturated bonds get oxidized, and can cause much more serious health defects than when such frying is done in all trans or saturated fats. For such foods, rethinking is required rather than making a blanket recommendation in favor of poly- and mono-unsaturated fats. Dr. R.C. YashRoy
Trans Fats are extremely dangerous - see Dr. Igram's book -"Eat Right or Die Young" - he was way ahead of his time. Your cell membranes cannot assimilate these man-made trans fats and they cause havoc with your immune system. By eliminating trans -fats from my diet over 10 years ago I successfully reduced my seasonal allergy symptoms.
With Americans eating out 3-5 meals per week we need to ask more questions at the restaurants we visit. When eating at home you can read food labels. In the restaurants you MUST ask questions.
Randy
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