What Are Trans Fats? Why Are They Bad To Your Health?
Why are trans fats bad? About twenty years ago, food manufacturers started using them in processed foods to extend their shelf life. The problem is that little was known about trans fats at the time, so people have continued to eat processed foods containing these harmful fats without realizing that they were clogging their arteries and were becoming more obese than ever before.
These fats are harmful because studies have shown that eating them in large amounts over time, they clog arteries, increase our cholesterol levels, decrease our levels of healthy HDL levels, and cause obesity. Years of eating trans fats in processed foods greatly increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and even death.
The effects of eating them are so harmful that the United States Government now requires food manufacturers to print the amount of these fats that are used in their foods on their nutrition labels.
While traces of these fats are produced naturally in beef and dairy products, most of them that are consumed are found in processed foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. It has been proven that approximately 80% of fat consumed in the average American's diet is from foods with trans fats such as most deep fried foods, potato chips, margarine, cookies, cakes, and crackers are full of hydrogenated oil and therefore contain high amounts of these fats.
Now, you know why they are bad, you can change your eating habits. By cutting out the processed foods that are so high in these fats, you can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity and other diseases. Reading labels is one of the best ways to find out how many trans fats you are putting into your body. In general, almost all processed foods contain high levels of trans fats and should be avoided.
In USA, since the Food and Drug Administration started requiring food companies to list them on their food labels in 2006, people began having a choice of whether to buy these foods or healthier versions. Luckily, consumers have become much more health conscience over the years forcing food manufacturers to produce healthier versions of high fat foods by leaving out the trans fats and adding ingredients that are less likely to cause such health issues.
By choosing foods that are naturally low in fat, such as fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, whole grains, and legumes, you can help combat heart disease and other diseases that are caused by a diet high in bad fats and cholesterol.
These fats are harmful because studies have shown that eating them in large amounts over time, they clog arteries, increase our cholesterol levels, decrease our levels of healthy HDL levels, and cause obesity. Years of eating trans fats in processed foods greatly increases your risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and even death.
The effects of eating them are so harmful that the United States Government now requires food manufacturers to print the amount of these fats that are used in their foods on their nutrition labels.
While traces of these fats are produced naturally in beef and dairy products, most of them that are consumed are found in processed foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. It has been proven that approximately 80% of fat consumed in the average American's diet is from foods with trans fats such as most deep fried foods, potato chips, margarine, cookies, cakes, and crackers are full of hydrogenated oil and therefore contain high amounts of these fats.
Now, you know why they are bad, you can change your eating habits. By cutting out the processed foods that are so high in these fats, you can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, obesity and other diseases. Reading labels is one of the best ways to find out how many trans fats you are putting into your body. In general, almost all processed foods contain high levels of trans fats and should be avoided.
In USA, since the Food and Drug Administration started requiring food companies to list them on their food labels in 2006, people began having a choice of whether to buy these foods or healthier versions. Luckily, consumers have become much more health conscience over the years forcing food manufacturers to produce healthier versions of high fat foods by leaving out the trans fats and adding ingredients that are less likely to cause such health issues.
By choosing foods that are naturally low in fat, such as fruits and vegetables, poultry, fish, whole grains, and legumes, you can help combat heart disease and other diseases that are caused by a diet high in bad fats and cholesterol.
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