The Danger of Trans Fat Oil
Trans fat has been around for a few decades. It was developed in the 1940's as a solution to enhance the taste of foods and to increase their shelf life. Trans fat was always considered safe for consumption until a startling discovery by scientists in 1990. They discovered that trans fats are responsible for increasing cholesterol levels and may be a contributing factor to heart disease and strokes.
Trans fat oils are made by injecting hydrogen into vegetable oil to partially harden it. This makes the food product last longer on the shelf and gives it a better taste. It has also been a more cost effective way of producing processed foods. But now, with all the negative publicity that trans fat is getting, it may well be on it's way out.
The reason that trans fat oils are so bad for you is that they will raise the LDL level in your bloodstream. LDL, or low density lipoproteins, will allow excess plaque to form in your arteries causing them to narrow. This will result in decreased blood flow to major organs, including the heart. If a piece of plaque breaks free from the arterial wall it can form a blockage in the artery, causing a heart attack or a stroke.
Trans fat oil will also decrease the HDL levels in your bloodstream. HDL, or high density lipoprotein, is responsible for picking up excess cholesterol and taking it back to the liver to be processed out of the body as waste. It is important that your HDL is maintained at a certain level for this function to be performed properly.
What kind of alternatives do you have to trans fats? Try choosing food products that contain mono saturated fats. These can be found in olive oil, peanut oil or canola oil. The mono saturated fats are a healthier option. Omega 3 fatty acids which are found in nuts, fish and other foods are a good choice also. Stay away from saturated fats because they will raise your cholesterol levels too.
Read the nutrition labels on all the foods that you purchase. Note that the FDA now requires that all food manufacturers list the amount of trans fat on their labels. Try to find foods that contain 0 trans fat. Read the ingredients also and make sure that there is no partially hydrogenated oils listed. This is another term for trans fat.
Ask the manager at your favorite restaurant if they have become trans fat free. Start eating more whole foods and fruits and vegetables. Try to do more cooking at home using trans fat free ingredients. Trans fat oil should be avoided at all costs. The health of your heart depends on it.
