Trans Fat
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Trans Fat is probably one of the most talked about health issues of 2006. And looks to continue to be hot topic through 2007. Even if you don’t follow health news, you may still have seen all the hoopla created by Mayor Bloomberg who passed a law to ban all Trans fats in NYC. The ban will force restaurants to switch to healthier cooking oils as well as salad dressings, baked goods, etc. So what is trans fat. The American Heart Association defines it like this.
Trans fat (also called trans fatty acids) is formed when liquid vegetable oils go through a chemical process called hydrogenation, in which hydrogen is added to make the oils more solid. Hydrogenated vegetable fats are used by food processors because they allow longer shelf-life and give food desirable taste, shape and texture.
Are all fats bad for you? No, there are healthier forms of fat than trans fat. But remember that even though they lower the bad cholesterol in your body they should only be consumed in moderation.
Monounsaturated Fat: Found in most nuts, olive oil and avocados.
Polyunsaturated Fat: Found in vegetable oils like corn, soy and sunflower
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Found in seafood such as salmon & herring as well as in flax oil and walnuts
Tips to avoid Trans Fat:
- Just say no to doughnuts
- Switch to natural peanut butter
- Replace your butter or margerine with Smart Balance
- Substitute apple sauce for oil when baking
- Check ingredient labels and avoid anything that includes hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated anything
posted by Anthony @ 7:00 PM,
