What are Trans fats?
Trans fats are industrially produced fatty acids put in packaged and processed foods by food manufacturers. Trans fats are created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to solidify them. This process makes foods produced for commercial purposes to have a long shelf life and these oils can be re-used many times and therefore, more cost effective for food companies.
What are the Effects of Trans fats on my Health
A diet high in trans fats can have negative consequences on the heart and arteries. It leads to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke because it raises the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering your levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
Trans fats also increases ones risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Which Foods Contain Trans fats?
Trans fats can be found in your processed foods such as baked foods and pastries, including the deep fried ones such as chin chin, doughnuts, puff puff ; margarines and spreads. Many fast food restaurants use these partially hydrogenated oils over and over to fry and cook their foods and snacks. You can identify trans fats in packaged foods by reading the Nutrition Fact label and ingredient list. Trans fats are also described as 'partially hydrogenated oils' on food packages.
How Can I Reduce or Avoid Trans fats in my Diet
Simply, obey nature's Laws of Good Foods. Eat natural and organic foods as much as possible. That is foods that were grown from the soil and whose seeds were not created through an industrial process or in a scientific laboratory.
Arm yourself with knowledge when shopping for groceries. Read the Nutrition Facts Label and ingredient list on the package to determine the amount of trans fats it contains before purchasing.
In your homemade meals, replace high cholesterol and partially hydrogenated oils with heart friendly, healthy oils such as olive oil. Avoid edible oils that solidify even under room temperature.
Cut back on pastries, fried foods and replace with healthy substitutes such as fruits, nuts, oats, plain low-fat yogurt, popcorn without sugar and butter, fruits and vegetable smoothies.
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