I’d heard of trans fats and I knew they were bad for you. But I had dismissed the topic, figuring that I’d revisit it later in life when it was more relevant. That changed last week after my coach told me to substitute my commercial brand of peanut butter for an all natural one. When I asked why, she told me it was made with hydrogenated oil which is bad for our heart and clogs our arteries. I needed more information – of which there is an abundance of online (both articles and videos).
It was worth the read because it has turned me off of eating literally thousands of foods. By cutting out any food containing hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats, I am going to be removing a lot of the processed foods and junk foods from my diet. Below is a summary of what I’ve read online. (NOTE: I am not a doctor and the information below is just based on what I read online!)
What it is: Hydrogenated oil is made by heating vegetable oil with a catalyst to change the molecular structure of the oil. These oils are laden with trans fat – a result of the process of hydrogenation.
Why it is: Hydrogenated oils are used because they are cheap fats, they increase the shelf life of the food product, they are easier to use (are in the form of a paste or solid), and aesthetics (size, texture, etc. is impacted).
The damage: Trans fats clog arteries and make them more rigid, lead to high blood pressure, cause a decrease of HDL (good) cholesterol and an increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol, raise the risk of heart disease, and can contribute to type 2 diabetes. It is also believed to be linked to many other diseases such as cancer.
How to eliminate it: read food labels. Do not eat anything with partially hydrogenated fat/oil or hydrogenated fat/oil or shortening in the ingredients list. You can also check the nutritional facts, to ensure that the product doesn’t contain trans fat.
“Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” Mark Twain
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