Trans fats

A community portal about Trans fats with blogs, videos, and photos. According to Wikipedia.org: Trans fatty acids (commonly termed trans fats) are a type of unsaturated fat (and may be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated). Trans fats occur naturally, in small quantities, in meat and dairy products from ruminants. Most trans fats consumed today, however, are industrially created as a side effect of partial hydrogenation of plant oils - a process developed in the early 1900s and first commercialized as Crisco in 1911. Partial hydrogenation changes a fat's molecular structure (raising its melting point and reducing rancidity) but this process also results in a proportion of the changed fat becoming trans fat. Unlike other fats, trans fats are neither required nor beneficial for health. Eating trans fat increases the risk of coronary heart disease. For these reasons, health authorities worldwide recommend that consumption of trans fat be reduced to trace amounts. Trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils are generally considered to be more of a health risk than those occurring naturally. Trans fats are increasingly being linked to chronic health conditions.

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Good Fat vs. Bad Fat -Which is Which?

Written by instantfeelgood on

From: instantfeelgood.blogspot.com

fried chicken full of saturated fats and oh so fattening

When it comes to eating healthily, there's a lot of misinformation and confusion out there and sometimes, it's easy for people to get an idea into their head abut how 'bad for them' and 'full of fat' something is. Take avocados. They get such a bad press because everyone thinks they're fattening. We all need fats - some of it is essential to help regulate hormonal production, improve our immune function, lower total cholesterol, lubricate the joints, and provide us with the basics for healthy hair, nails and skin. So here is a simple guide to what to look out for so you know your fats.
And remember, as a rule of thumb, the fats that go solid and white at room temperature are bad and the fats that stay runny are good.

THE GOOD
Monounsaturated Fats
Monounsaturated fats lower total cholesterol. They can be found in:nutspeanutswalnutsalmondspistachiosavocadocanola oilolive oil
These fats also help with weight loss, particularly with reducing body fat.

Polyunsaturated Fats
Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol levels. You can find these in:seafoodsalmonfish oilcornsoysunflower oils
They are also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. Some people get a little picky about Polyunsaturated Fats as they think that they can sometimes reduce the levels of good cholesterol but I don't think you will be consuming enough to reach that stage.

THE BAD
Saturated Fats
Saturated fats raise your total blood cholesterol and can lead to heart disease. Saturated fats are mainly found in:animal products such as meatdairyeggsInterestingly, the palm tree is guilty of creating saturated fats too which is why you should limit the amount of coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil you have.

If you are on a diet and actually want to lose weight, never, ever have deep-fried food. It has absolutely no nutritional value and is the equivalent of eating rubbish. Loaded with saturated fat, it's very fattening and bad for your heart and arteries. Foods to avoid - fries, potato chips, breaded chicken dippers and onion rings.

THE UGLY
Trans Fats
Trans fats are created in labs as a by-product of adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. This is done to extend the shelf life of the food. Another name for trans fats is “partially hydrogenated oils." The trans fatty acids are found in:packaged foodsfried foods from some fast food restaurantssome brands of microwave popcorn
You don't ever want to consume the stuff if you can help it as it clogs the arteries and raise cholesterol levels dangerously.

photograph by joshbousel (flickr)

Copyright 2008 | Jeff Archer http://instantfeelgood.blogspot.com Credit to the author must be given if this post is re-published.

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