No matter how much we hear about how bad Trans Fat is for us, most people simply do not know what to look for. Here is what you need to know about trans fat:1. Look for the grams of trans fat on the Nutrition Facts label. Any number, even .5 is a red flag. Remember, the daily goal is as low as possibly, ideally zero. If you ate 2 foods at every meal with .5 g per serving, you could end up with 4
You may already know that saturated fats found in animal fat, like marbling in steak, sausage, cheese and butter can raise LDL cholesterol levels and clog arteries. Trans fat is similarly bad for our hearts. You should eat as little trans fat as possible.
What is Trans Fat?
Trans fat is formed when a liquid vegetable oil is partially hydrogenated. This chemical process changes a liquid fat to a more solid fat. It also keeps the fat from spoiling quickly.
Why Limit Trans Fat?
Trans fat raises LDL cholesterol levels. It may also lower “good” HDL cholesterol. People who eat more trans fat are at greater risk of heart disease.
Tips for Limiting Trans Fat:
Read food labels: You’ll want to check the ingredients list and the Nutrition Facts panel. The Nutrition Facts panel lists the amou
From MayoClinic.comSpecial to CNN.comWhen it comes to fat, trans fat is considered by some doctors to be the worst of them all because of its double-barreled impact on your cholesterol levels. Unlike other fats, trans fat — also called trans fatty acids — both raises your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lowers your "good" (HDL) cholesterol.A high LDL cholesterol level in combination with a low HDL cholesterol level significantly increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of men and women. Learn more about trans fat and how to avoid it.What is trans fat?Trans fat comes from adding hydrogen to vegetable oil through a process called hydrogenation. Trans fats are more solid than oil, making them less likely to spoil. Using trans fats in the manufacturing of foods helps foods stay
I'm sure you've read it already. It was on the front page of everything today. The City of Boston has officially banned trans fat. I blogged about it months ago (here) and my attitude has only changed slightly.I still do not appreciate the idea of the government telling me what I can and cannot eat. Which part of my attitude has changed? Well after reading Good Calories, Bad Calories - see my review (here) - I'm no longer of the mindset that it's fat that is the main culprit. I am now a believer that it's carbs. Fat probably isn't good for me either, so for now I've been sticking with fruits/veggies and protein.You know what makes this dangerous? I'm going to use a firearm example - all you anti-gun people don't get mad. So in 1998 MA passed a gun law requiring all these extra sa
Newark is considering a law that would ban the city's restaurants from using trans fats among their ingredients. Councilman-at-large Carlos Gonzalez's proposal is modeled after one New York City historically passed back in 2006. It barred the Big Apple's nearly...
Is dieting difficult for you? Due to Trans fats, dieting becomes very difficult for most of you. Trans fats can be the killer of all diets.
Trans fat is another name for unsaturated fat with trans isomer fatty acids. They can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated.
The consumption of these fats can raise [...]
This morning I posted that Government officials were meeting with fast food reps and other health officials to discuss trans fats.
It appears that the fast food industry has agreed to try and reduce the use of trans fats and look for alternatives. They have been asked to do this by September. The Government is not imposing bans at this stage opting instead to go for voluntary participation. Basically, self regulated. It should be interesting to see how this goes.
I suspect that the fast food chains will come to the party on this issue as it’s in their best interest to be seen to do something pro-active.
tags technorati : trans fats obesity overweight fast food
Word from Australia this morning that Government officials are meeting with fast food executives to discuss trans fats.
While no mention of a ban has been made, the Consumers Association during an interview on Channel 7’s Sunrise programme said that banning would be the ideal outcome.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I doubt no major announcements will be made but I think the pressure is starting to increase. Especially after a study came out yesterday showing that 1 in 5 children under the age of 4 are either overweight or obese.
Related Links
Trans Fats Stories
tags technorati : trans fats obesity overweight fast food
It’s National Nutrition Month and I thought I’d investigate some of the common foods we eat that contain those nasty trans fats.
The following list comes from the ediet website:
1. Spreads. Margarine, for example, contains both trans fats and saturated fats, both of which can lead to heart disease. Other non-butter spreads and shortening also contain large amounts of trans fat and saturated fat.
2. Packaged Foods. Favorites such as cake mixes and Bisquick contain generally have several grams of trans fat per serving.
3. Soups. For example, ramen noodles and soup cups contain very high levels of trans fat.
4. Fast Food. Those beloved french fries and other crunchy foods are deep-fried in partially hydrogenated oil.
5. Frozen Food. From frozen pies to pot pies to breaded fish sticks, frozen foods generally contain trans fat. Even if the label says the product is low-fat, it can contain trans fat.
6. Baked Goods. Commercially baked products contain more trans fats tha
The Buffalo News is now giving consideration to the merits of letting the Government tell us what we can eat.
The trans fat debate in this region has broadened. A proposed ban on the use of trans fats in city restaurants, unwise because it’s too thinly focused in a region where city dining establishments face stiff cost and popularity competition with suburban ones, now has a countywide counterpart proposal that makes more sense and should be explored.
My question for the Buffalo News is, where does it end? This list of potentially harmful edible products is nearly endless.
There is evidence that the use of trans fats in cooking is a serious health issue, no small matter in a region that has high levels of coronary disease. There is a public interest as well, because communities and taxpayers share in health care costs. The quickest way to improve public health is through policy, and the fairest way to implement policies like this would be at the broadest possible levels.
(Posted by Patrick Sullivan Jr.)
Heard a little trans fat blip on the news tonight. Something about Starbucks cutting out trans fat from their stores in NYC, as well as 9 other cities. Mostly, this means dropping certain backed goods that contain partially hydrogenated oils.
Googled and found this easy to understand "mom's" article about how hard it is to stay away from trans fat. As the danger of trans fat becomes more well known and you try to protect your family, the most important take away is this: ...some of the foods labeled trans-fat free aren't. "That packaging can be deceptive," he says. "When it says 0 g trans fat, by law it can contain up to half a gram per serving." A few servings a day, and you could find yourself in dangerous trans-land.
Still, it is possible to shop smart. Stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats Markets have instituted a total ban. Otherwise, scrutinize the ingredients list; the words hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated are the number one ti
Trans fat ban: Watch saturated fats and calories too, Nutrition Notes from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts UniversityTufts recommended reading:Boston -- In December, New York City passed a law to phase out the use of trans fat in restaurants. Other cities, including Boston and Chicago, might follow suit. According to Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, Gershoff professor of nutrition science and policy at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, the ban is a step in the right direction, but restaurateurs need to replace partially hydrogenated fat with unsaturated fat. If they choose saturated fat it would diminish the health benefits of this new initiative. Another new regulation that requires some restaurants to provide calorie information as prominently as price might be even more important, notes Lichtenstein."There is no biological need for trans fat and intake is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the media attent
A national group funded by food companies and resturants has spent $125,000 to put it’s commercial on heavy rotation this week on CNN and the Fox News Channel. The group is opposed to the proposed ban on trans fats and is calling the NY officials responsible, the “food police”.
The ad shows an ice cream being snatched from a child’s hand. In another, a man getting ready to enjoy a hot dog is crestfallen when an unseen person grabs it and takes it away.
Everywhere you turn, someone’s telling us what we can’t eat,” the narrator says.
Last week, city Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden asked the Board of Health to change the health code so that trans fats are eliminated from city restaurants and food carts by 2008.
Health officials said trans fat, found in fried foods, baked goods, margarine and vegetable shortening, increases the risk of heart disease.
While many restuarants have supported the proposed ban, the New York State Restaurant Associati
Manufacturers are replacing trans fat to comply with the "nutrition police" organizations; however, some are just replacing one evil with another -- saturated fat, usually in the form of tropical oils, such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oil.
Although researchers claim that saturated-fat loaded tropical oils are less harmful than ...
