Posted by kathryn in Fats & oils and Nutrition

In the last week, news has come through that trans fats have been banned from restaurants and food outlets in New York. While, Denmark has had a total ban on high levels of trans fats, for quite some time. In the spectrum of good fats through to bad fats, trans fats are being categorised as the REALLY bad fat.

What are trans fats?

While trans fats do occur naturally in some foods, the vast majority are in processed foods.

They are formed when poly-unsaturated fats, like corn oil and soybean oil, are partially hydrogenated. This is a chemical process where an oil, that is liquid at room temperature, is converted into a fat. The fat has a much higher melting point and is a semi-solid at room temperature.

During this process the poly -unsaturated fat is converted into a mono -unsaturated fat, PLUS a whole lot of trans fats.

Are they really that bad for you?

Trans fats are a problem. They vastly increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Eating only 5g of trans fats per day, increases your risk of heart disease by 25 percent.

There are also concerns trans fats are linked tocancer, diabetes, obesity and also liver dysfunction.

For better health we need to avoid these partially hydrogenated fats, with their high levels of trans. At the moment, there is no acceptable minimum level of intake. Most health authorities are saying steer clear of them altogether.

11 December, 2006