TRANS FAT
Another food that only humans are foolish
enough to eat...
Why is it that a tub of margarine can sit on the kitchen counter for months untouched by bugs or mice? It won’t melt, it won’t mold, and it seems that humans are the only ones foolish enough to consume something so freakishly unnatural. Many people have switched from butter to margarine because they’ve been told it is a healthier choice. This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Trans fat is found in margarine, and in vegetable shortenings!
If you see the words "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated oil" on the label, the product contains trans fat. Partially hydrogenated oil is in about 40 percent of the food at the grocery store, including some products most consumers regard as healthy. Almost every packaged, convenience food contains one or more sources of hydrogenated oils, including: most cereals, bread, cookies, crackers, chips, pies, french fries, pizzas, pop corn, peanut butter, cake frosting, candy, and ice cream. Food labeled "low in saturated fat," "cholesterol-free" or "made with 100 percent vegetable oil" can have so much trans fat that consumers who are focused on heart-healthy choices should avoid these like the plague.
One study, by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, showed that foods with partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list contained 1 gram of hidden trans fat for each gram of saturated fat. That means some "Name Brand" chocolate chip cookies, for example, with 2 grams of saturated fat per serving also contain 2 additional grams of trans fat. Trans fat amounts are just beginning to be regulated on supplement facts labels, so at this point, the wording may still be a little confusing, and misleading. We suggest reading the ingredient list and looking for "partially hydrogenated oil”.
Once you start reading labels, you’ll notice that it’s everywhere! Why? Because for a manufacturer, it’s much cheaper than butter, it makes many products easily spreadable, and it doesn’t spoil or become rancid like regular oil, which results in a longer shelf life. That may be good news for the manufacturer, but trans fat is bad news for consumers.
What is trans fat?
Hydrogenated oil is created by forcing hydrogen gas into the holes of unsaturated fatty acids. This process requires the presence of a metal catalyst at temperatures of around 500 degrees for the reaction to take place. One of the side effects of this process is the residue of toxic metals (usually nickel and aluminum) that is left behind in the finished product. These metals accumulate in our cells where they alter cellular functions causing a wide variety of health problems. But, even as bad as that sounds, trans fatty acids, or trans fat, that the hydrogenation process creates, have their own host of health dangers above and beyond the issue of toxic metal residue.
Why are trans fats so harmful?
Since hydrogenated oils don’t occur in nature, our bodies don’t know how to deal with them effectively. They act as poisons to crucial cellular reactions and they wind up in cell membranes and other places they shouldn’t be. Recent measurements show trans fats as high as 20% in the membranes of human red blood cells, when this figure should be zero. The protective structure and function of cell membranes is weakened when trans fatty acids are present, allowing toxic chemicals to get into the cell more easily. Also the normal transport of minerals and other nutrients into cells is disrupted. Trans fats block the normal conversion of cholesterol in the liver and contribute to elevated cholesterol levels. They increase LDLs (the bad cholesterol) and decrease HDLs (the good cholesterol). Because of this, trans fat is considered to be a major contributor of cardiovascular diseases. Scientific reports have confirmed the relationship between trans fat and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. An American Heart Association study released last July showed that foods cooked with trans fat might clog arteries quicker than food cooked in animal-based saturated fat.
Trans fats are restricted in many food products in Europe, with some countries allowing no more than 0.1% trans fatty acid content. Compare this to some margarines in the U.S. which may contain between 30 and 50%.
Have you tried to lose weight and noticed that your
non-fat diet isn’t working?
Hidden hydrogenated oils in processed foods may be the culprit because they interfere with the absorption of Essential Fatty Acids, or EFAs. These good fats, are essential to every metabolic function of the body, including the chemicals and hormones that regulate how your body uses food. The good news for dieters is that EFAs cause a chemical reaction that tells you “I’m full”.
When your diet is inadequate in them you will be hungry until you get them! You will probably crave all the wrong things and won’t be able to figure out why you still have that “I want something more” feeling after finishing a meal. A touch of real butter instead of margarine, and cooking with a little cream now and then may be the magic bullet you’ve been looking for. Of course moderation is a good rule of thumb because they have a lot of calories. One of the many theories behind why the French stay so slim is that they cook with real butter and their many sauces usually contain cream. They are taking advantage of the chemical reaction that occurs when adequate EFAs are present in a meal, signaling the body to feel satisfied and stop eating...and they do. Of course, you have to listen to your body, and put down your fork for this technique to work! Eliminating hydrogenated oil and increasing EFAs are an important key.
Deficiencies in EFAs, cause a range of problems, from impairing the brain’s ability to learn and recall information, to decreasing immune function. Since trans fat lowers EFA levels, and heat makes them ineffective, if you’re eating foods containing hydrogenated oils it may be difficult to get enough EFA’s in your diet.
Supplementing with Vital-Earth’s organic, patented cold-vacuum processed Neptune Krill is one way to make sure you’re getting adequate levels of Omega 3, Essential Fatty Acids. Plus, Neptune Krill also contains phospholipids, and the antioxidant astaxanthin. In food sources they’re found in deepwater fish, raw nuts, seeds, and legumes. Studies show that EFAs are extremely beneficial and can provide many health benefits, including:
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Rebuilding and producing new cells
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Important for brain and eye function
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Helping muscles, nerves and organs grow and function
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Improving skin and hair
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Reducing blood pressure
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Lowering cholesterol levels
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Reducing your risk of blood clots
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Lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease
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Decreasing the stiffness, pain, and swelling of arthritis
So don’t sabotage your weight loss plan, as well as your health, by depleting Essential Fatty Acids with Hydrogenated Oil. EFAs are the “good” oil—and they’re essential!
How can you avoid bad fats (trans fats)?
Don’t buy any products containing hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated oil. It’s as simple as that. Use butter instead of margarine, and olive oil instead of vegetable oil. Do we even need to mention fried food? The absolute worst is fast-food chains who use cheap, partially hydrogenated oils in their deep frying. Just think about it...first the oil is hydrogenated, then it is subjected to the deep frying process. A double whammy!
In conclusion...know your fats!
There are only 4 kinds of fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, and trans.
Mono and polyunsaturated fats are considered the “good” fats. They do not clog arteries, and, in moderation, can contribute to a healthy diet; olive, peanut and walnut oils.
Saturated fat, mainly animal fat, is also a “good” fat if used in moderation; lard, butter, whole milk, cream, and other products that come from animals. These fats can raise cholesterol so moderation is the key here.
Trans fat, (partially hydrogenated oil) as you know, is the "bad" fat and should be completely eliminated from everyone's diet - no exceptions.
Better choices, means better health
Learn to make better health choices based on solid research, instead of advertising and marketing promotions. You can only make good food and supplement selections for yourself and your family if you have knowledge of what is in the products you are consuming.
Skip the processed, convenience, and quick foods and choose natural and organic alternatives instead. The small amount of time you spend on planning and cooking more “naturally” can make a big difference in your long term health. Choose your products wisely because the health of your family is in your hands.
For more FDA information on trans fat and the new ruling requiring manufacturers to list trans fatty acids, or trans fat, on the Nutrition Facts panel of foods and some dietary supplements, please go to their web site at:
http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/transfat/ |
