 Eating Right - Trans Fats? |
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What are trans fats, and why are we supposed to avoid them?
According to many doctors, trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils), also called trans-fatty acids, might be the worst of all fats for your health. This is because they raise your LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and lower your HDL (“good”) cholesterol at the same time. High LDL combined with low HDL increases your risk of developing heart disease and type two diabetes. There is even some indication that trans fats might be implicated in a higher incidence of breast cancer.
Partially hydrogenated oils were created to make foods stay fresh longer, but it turns out that there is something about the hydrogenation process—or perhaps the body’s inability to metabolize partially hydrogenated oils—that drives up cholesterol. To reduce your intake of trans fats, avoid foods with the words “partially hydrogenated” high in the list of ingredients.
In general, the more solid a margarine or similar product is at room temperature, the more hydrogenated (hardened) it is. So, spray margarine would have less trans fat than liquid margarine, which would have less trans fat than tub margarine, which would have less trans fat than stick margarine.
Your best bet is to make your own foods whenever possible with olive, canola or corn oil, avoiding deep fried foods from restaurants and reading labels to try to avoid hydrogenated oils high in the list of ingredients.
Finally, know that trans fats appear in almost all processed foods, and you will not be able to realistically eliminate them from your diet entirely. Just try to consumer it in moderation. For example, if the only trans or hydrogenated fat in your diet is from margarine, and you use it in small amounts, then it's not a concern. However, if your diet is high in fat (more than 20-30% of your total calories, doesn't matter what kind of fat), and if most of that fat is trans/hydrogenated or saturated fat, then you may have cause for concern for heart disease, obesity, various cancers, and other health issues.
This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.
Gerald Harkins, M.D.
Department of OB-Gyn
P.O. Box 850, H-103
Hershey PA 17033
717-531-6447 |
Susan D. Hunter, M.D.
626 Ed Carey Dr
Harlingen TX 78550
956-428-4868 |
Barbara Levy, M.D.
34503 Ninth Avenue S. #330
Federal Way WA 98003
253-838-3695 |
Boniface Ndubisi, M.D.
2964 N. State Road 7
Suite 100
Margate FL 33063
954 974 5190 |
Laurence Orbuch, M.D.
202 Spring Street
2nd Floor
New York NY 10012
212-343-3040 |
Larry R. Glazerman, M.D.
USF College of Medicine
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 62
Tampa FL 33612
813-259-8500 |
Zoe Kazemi-Dunn, M.D.
5550 E. Hampton
Tucson AZ 85712
520-421-8605 |
Caren C Reaves, M.D.
Caring for Women
2805 S. Mayhill Rd
Denton TX 76208
940-591-6700 |
Arnold Advincula, M.D.
Florida Hospital Celebration Health
400 Celebration Plac
Celebration FL 34747
407-303-4190 |
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-- January NewsletterPost Hysterectomy Fitness and Health is the theme of our January, 2012 newsletter at HysterSisters.com. Visit this link [ More]...
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