Why are Trans Fats Bad for Your Health? The "Hidden Killer in Our Food"?
If you are like most people, you're probably wondering why are trans fats bad for your health ? Before looking at the ways in which they affect your health and the many foods they are commonly found in (most of which you don't even know about), let’s take a quick look at...
What are Trans Fats? Why are Trans Fats Bad?
You want the short answer? Trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are harmful artificial fats used mainly to prevent packaged foods from spoiling too fast. So if you consume these kind of foods on a regular basis, you are at great risk!
For the whole truth about deadly trans fats, why they are used virtually everywhere - from your grocery store to the finest restaurants' menus - and the real reason for the long cover-up, pick up Judith Shaw's Trans Fats: the Hidden Killer in our Food.
Here you'll find out how to read food labels, how to get rid of trans fats in your kitchen, how to identify and avoid them when eating out and a trans fats-free food list - take a look now at Trans Fats: the Hidden Killer in our Food
You should know that - apart from insignificant amounts found naturally in beef, lamb and dairy products - trans fats are formed during the chemical refining of vegetable oils, as well as during their "partial hydrogenation". This is a chemical process that transforms liquid, less stable vegetable oils into more stable solid fats, like margarine and vegetable shortenings commonly used in the production of packaged, everyday foods.
You may be wondering, why are they used if they are so toxic?
Well, the food industry started to chemically "enhance" vegetable oils decades ago to extend the shelf life of processed foods and prevent them from going rancid too fast. It was only a few years ago that scientists and medical community discovered the great toxicity of trans fats and their harmful effects on our health.
In fact, health authorities worldwide recommend limiting the consumption of trans fats to just trace amounts.
So Why are Trans Fats Bad for Human Health?
That's because partial hydrogenation destroys the vegetable oils’ molecular structure creating toxic trans fats - a liquid, plastic-like substance.
Your body doesn't recognize it and doesn't know what to do with it, so it isolates it in a special kind of protein, storing it in the walls of your aorta and the other arteries.
Stop for a moment and just think about this.
Newer studies have demonstrated again and again that trans fats increase dramatically the risk of obesity, birth defects and many degenerative chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer, cardiovascular disease.
The long-term use of these deadly trans fats cause the breakdown of cell membranes throughout the body, including nervous system tissues, eyes, brain, and spinal cord.
And why are trans fats bad - especially for your heart health? Because they:
Lower your blood levels of good cholesterol (HDL), which protects against heart disease
Raise your blood levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), which is a risk factor for heart disease
Think about it... Do you get now why are trans fats bad for your health if consumed on a regular basis?
What are Trans Fats Most Common Products?
Shockingly, although in the last few years federal regulations restricted the use of trans fats, they are still up to 45% of the total fat amount in conventional, supermarket products all over North America.
Contrary to the deceptive advertising hype, the most dangerous fats are typically found in day to day foods like:
packaged foods like snacks, cookies, crackers, cereals
baking shortenings
margarine
bakery products like pies, muffins, pastries
fried foods like French fries, fried chicken, donuts
mayonnaise
most salad dressings
If you care about your health, avoid these products at all costs!
Don't even keep in your house anything containing trans fats. They are disguised as "vegetable shortening", or "partially hydrogenated oil" on the labels. Read the labels - you won't have any trouble recognizing them, since these harmful fats are tightly regulated and must be fully disclosed on all food product labels. You can learn more about trans fats in this article from the University of Maryland Medical Center, "Trans Fats 101".
So here you have it, the answers to your questions, what are trans fats and why are trans fats bad for your health? To read more about trans fats and how to make sure they don't find their way in your diet, don't forget to take a look at Judith Shaw's Trans Fats: the Hidden Killer in our Food >>
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