Understanding Trans Fat
What is trans fat? And how can it affect your well being? Read on to learn about the dangers of this unsaturated fat that is apparent in our daily diet.
Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat with trans isomer fatty acids. Basically, trans fat is formed when food manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil, a process called partial hydrogenation. The reason of its use is due to its higher melting point which increases the shelf life and flavour stability of foods and it also helps to improve the food texture.
Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, some margarines, baked goods such as doughnuts, pastry, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when food manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. A small amount of trans fat is found naturally, primarily in some animal-based foods including milk, sheep, goats, deer, buffalo and marsupials. These naturally occurring trans fats, in the quantities and proportions in which they naturally occur, do not endanger health.
Trans fat raises the LDL (low density lipoprotein) bad cholesterol and lower HDL (high density lipoprotein) good cholesterol that increases your risk for coronary heart disease. They also cause inflammation, an over-activity of the immune system that has been implicated in stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Another notable concern suggests that trans fatty acids will lead to the deficiency of Omega3 and Omega 6 fatty acid which are very essential for life.
Trans fat is not bad in moderation, but excessive intake will more than likely be the cause of health problems. However, the best and the healthiest way are to avoid trans fatty acid by changing one's eating habits. WORLDFOODS could be your choice of alternative to help reduce trans fat intake. Furthermore, WORLDFOODS products are trans fat free as it uses palm oil, a naturally trans fat free vegetable oil. This oil, which also has been claimed to be an excellent source of tocotrienols - an essential of Vitamin E, has been known to help prevent heart disease and strokes by reversing atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) as well as helping to lower cholesterol and reducing unhealthy blood clotting.
