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Trans Fat
What exactly is trans fat? I've heard that it's a kind of fat that just sticks to you and is impossible to lose. How badly does it affect weight and health? Should I amke sure everything I eat has trans fat? I'm worried that it'll build up and I'll get fat, and I won't be able to lose the weight.
Thanks
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Maybe give some free advice about: Nutrition?
Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. However, a small amount of trans fat is found naturally, primarily in some animal-based foods. Essentially, trans fat is made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil -- a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats.
Trans fat, like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, raises the LDL (or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk for CHD. On average, Americans consume 4 to 5 times as much saturated fat as trans fat in their diet.
Although saturated fat is the main dietary culprit that raises LDL, trans fat and dietary cholesterol also contribute significantly. Trans fat can often be found in processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils such as vegetable shortenings, some margarines (especially margarines that are harder), crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, and baked goods.
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Trans fat (partially hydrogenated oil) isn't just bad for your figure. It's been linked to serious heart disease, good and bad cholesterol levels, and diabetes
My advice is to eat foods that contain trans fats (like processed snack foods and fast and fast-casual food such as McDonald's or Lee Ann Chin's) in severe moderation.
If you're concerned about it, I recommend a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats like poultry and pork (and not too much red meat), fish like salmon and tuna, at least 3 glasses of milk or servings of cheese per day, and whole grains. Sweets are alright in small amounts, and try to get 120 minutes of vigorous exercize a week. No crazy grapefruit starvation diet needed!
I hope this helps you out!
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Trans fats occur naturally, but in very low amounts. They're mostly man-made by hydrogenating oils. Almost anything with "Partially-hydrogenated" in the ingredient list has trans fats to some extent. Peanut butter has very few, but the natural alternative is much better for you.
Trans fats are used to make a product's shelf life longer. Ever wondered why a granola bar lasts three years? Trans fats don't go bad as quickly.
Bottom line, they're not good. Eating a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc. is fine. What little trans fats you consume (like, from a PB&J sandwich as opposed to fried chicken) won't hurt you that much. But the amount the average person eats is far too high. Try to eliminate trans fats altogether. This job will get easier by the end of 2008 (or 2007, I don't remmeber the date) because the government will require all foods to have trans fats on the nutrition label.
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