Trans fats are liquid vegetable oils that have had hydrogen gas pumped through it to make them solid. This process prevents the oil from spoiling and extends the shelf life of the processed foods that are made with trans fats.
What Hydrogenated and Partially Hydrogenated Oils Do to Your Health:
Trans fats:
* Block the process of converting healthy fats and fatty acid pre-cursors to usable fatty acids.
* Increase LDL cholesterol (“bad”)
* Decrease HDL cholesterol (“good”)
* Creates Fat imbalances that cause inflammation
* Increases insulin levels in the blood
* Contribute to Gut problems
Trans fats are also called partially hydrogenated oil. Most companies have taken strides to eliminate or reduce trans fats however, they can still be found in many products.
Marketing ploys of “Trans Fat Free”
Food companies are allowed to make the “Trans Fat Free” claim if the serving size is under 0.5 grams per serving. It’s important to look for “partially hydrogenated oil” in the list of ingredients. Sneaky, but if you know what to look for, it’s easy to spot.
Trans fats are most commonly found in:
- Baked goods (breads, cookies, etc.)
- Candy
- Cereal
- Potato Chips
- Margarine/Shortening
With natural fats, your body is able to metabolize them through the natural emulsification process during digestion. Fats emulsified with bile are further broken down and used for hormone production or stored for later use (energy). Trans fats are large and dense and can build up in the body over time causing toxicity. Trans fats have a half life of 52 days. Even after 75 days of consumption, 25% of these fats can still be found in the body. Yes, that is gross.
So be on the lookout for trans fats and keep them out of your mouth!