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What are trans fats?

Trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Another name for trans fats is “partially hydrogenated oils." Look for them on the ingredient list on food packages.

Why do some companies use trans fats?

Companies like using trans fats in their foods because they’re easy to use, inexpensive to produce and last a long time. Trans fats give foods a desirable taste and texture. Many restaurants and fast-food outlets use trans fats to deep-fry foods because oils with trans fats can be used many times in commercial fryers.

How do trans fats affect my health?

Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. More recently, University of Maryland researched Dr Mary Enig proved that the increased cancer rates were directly associated with total fat intake and vegetable fat intake.

Why did trans fats become so popular if they have such bad health effects?

Before 1990, very little was known about how trans fat can harm your health. In the 1990s, research began identifying the adverse health effects of trans fats.

What foods contain trans fats?

Trans fats can be found in many foods – but especially in fried foods like French fries, fried chicken, chicken nuggets and doughnuts, and baked goods including pastries, pie crusts, biscuits, pizza dough, cookies, crackers, potato chips, chocolate and shortenings. You can determine the amount of trans fats in a particular packaged food by looking at the

Nutrition Facts label. You can also spot trans fats by reading ingredient lists and looking for the ingredients referred to as “partially hydrogenated oils.”

American Heart Association