How to Avoid Eating Bad Fats

Processed Trans Fats are damaging to Human Health

The U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has acknowledged that most processed foods contain industrially produced trans fat. Artificial trans fat can lead to health issues such as coronary heart disease and people suffering from heart attacks. Trans fats are now generally recognized as no longer being safe.

Unfortunately, it is going to take 3 years for the FDA to phase in this ruling and so the consumer is still at risk of these bad fats. In the meantime, you have to be proactive and check the fats in your food. 

Below is a list of things to look out for when buying food or what questions to ask when eating out.

Don't eat any product which has the words "partially hydrogenated" or "shortening" in the ingredients list.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises:

Consumers can know if a food contains trans fat by looking at the ingredient list on the food label. If the ingredient list includes the words “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated vegetable oil” or “hydrogenated vegetable oil,” the food contains trans fat. Because ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance, smaller amounts are present when the ingredient is close to the end of the list.

Note: Fully hydrogenated oils do not contain trans fat. However, if the word "hydrogenated" is used without the word "partially," that product may contain partially hydrogenated oil. Not all labeling is accurate and the word "partially" may have been wrongfully omitted on some products.

If the label says zero trans fats, don't believe it. If the words "partially hydrogenated" or "shortening" are in the ingredients list, it DOES contain trans fat.

Under FDA regulations in effect in the United States, "if the serving contains less than 0.5 gram [of trans fat], the content when declared, shall be expressed as zero." Suppose a product contains 0.4 grams per serving and you eat four servings (which is not uncommon). You have just consumed 1.6 grams of trans fat, despite the fact that the package claims that the product contains zero grams of trans fat per serving.

In restaurants, bakeries, and other eateries, ask whether they use partially hydrogenated oil for frying or baking or in salad dressings. If they say they use vegetable oil, ask whether it is partially hydrogenated. Don't be shy about asking. Assume that all unlabeled baked and fried goods contain partially hydrogenated oil unless you know otherwise.

Ask about that fried food. Ask about the oil in the salad dressing. Ask about that donut. Ask about that pie crust. Ask about that bread. When you ask, you are sending a message to the seller of the food that you don't want trans fats.

Keep saturated fat intake low too. This is very important.

Remember that polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fats are good fats.

For full article go to the ban trans fat website