We will explain what trans fats are, how they are made, and what makes them different from other fats.<\/p>\n
We will also explore why they are bad for us and show you ways to avoid eating them once and for all.<\/p>\n
Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n Trans fats (also called trans unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids) are found in nature as well as produced synthetically.<\/p>\n Natural trans fats are produced in the gut of some grazing animals (like cattle and sheep), which is why small quantities of trans fat can be found in animal products like meat, milk and milk products.<\/p>\n According to the official USDA nutrient database, cheese, milk, yogurt, burgers, chicken fat, turkey meat, bologna and hot dogs contain up to about 1-5 percent trans fat.<\/p>\n Trans fat can also be synthetically created by hardening vegetable oil in a process called hydrogenation, which rearranges the atoms, so they behave more like animal fats.<\/p>\n Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are attractive to food manufacturers because they enhance the shelf life, texture and flavor stability of foods\u2014all at a low cost.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s examine how the hydrogenation process alters the composition of fat. <\/strong><\/p>\n Naturally occurring fats have double bonds: a connection with two bonds, holding one carbon atom to the next in a long chain of carbons. Each carbon on both sides of the double bond has one hydrogen attached to it. Because these two hydrogen atoms are located on the same side of the double bond, it causes the chain to bend.<\/p>\n When you partially hydrogenate, the molecules are rearranged so that the two hydrogen atoms are no longer located on the same side but instead on the opposite (or trans<\/em>) side of each other. This acts to \u2018straighten out\u2019 the carbon chain, making it more solid and tight.<\/p>\n Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n In the standard American diet, the average<\/a> daily trans fat intake is 5.8 grams, representing approximately 2.6 percent of calories consumed.<\/p>\n About half of American\u2019s trans fat intake comes from animal products and half from processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils. (PHOs)<\/p>\n Trans fats may be present in many commercially processed, packaged foods, which are made with PHOs.\u00a0 This includes baked goods, cakes, coffee creamers, cookies, crackers, donuts, fast food, fried food (including French fries), frozen pies, frozen pizza, potato and tortilla chips, ready-to-use frosting, refrigerated dough products, snack foods (including some microwave popcorn), vegetable shortenings and stick margarine.<\/p>\n Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n Trans fat was once thought to be healthful and a \u2018great boon to Americans\u2019 arteries,’ but research has told another story.<\/p>\n At the end of the day, trans fat is bad for us.<\/p>\n In fact, trans fat is considered to be the worst type of fat you can eat.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n According to the National Academy of Sciences, the organization that advises the US and Canadian governments on nutritional science policy, \u201cTrans fatty acids are not essential and provide no known benefit to human health.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n A 2006 analysis<\/a> published in the New England Journal of Medicine concurs, stating that, \u201cFrom a nutritional standpoint, the consumption of trans fatty acids results in considerable potential harm but no apparent benefit.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Trans fats increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. They have even been associated with aggressive behavior, impatience, and irritability.<\/p>\n Specifically, trans fats encourage:<\/p>\nWhat Is a Trans Fat?<\/h3>\n
How Many Trans Fats Do We Eat?<\/h3>\n
Why Trans Fats Are Bad for Us<\/h3>\n
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