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Trans Fat: Why It Should Be AvoidedTrans fat is consumed in our diets. It occurs naturally in milk and in the fat tissue of animals like cows and sheep. The majority, however, comes from
hydrogenated vegetable oils. Thats right! They act to lower LDL, the bad cholesterol. And lower HDL, the good cholesterol. This sounds good. What's the problem? The problem is that this industrially manufactured unsaturated fat does not act in the same way on cholesterol as the natural form. Instead we see a raising of LDL (bad) and a lowering of HDL (good) cholesterol. Two significant factors in the increasing heart disease stats. Margarine is manufactured. As is shortening manufactured. These products should not be consumed. Many fast food restaurants and snack food producers are voluntarily removing this fat from their products. That is a move in the right direction. It doesn't go far enough though. The products still use hydrogenated oils. They have merely taken out the byproduct. Further, labeling requirements are too lenient. An absolute 0% trans fat is not needed to be so labeled. It is instead determined my a percentage of the overall fat content. So, this means you need to look for hydrogenated oil as an ingredient on the labels. This artificial fat is not needed in our diets. It does not contribute to health. It therefore can not have a acceptable level of consumption. Nor can it ever be recommended in good conscience as part of ones fat intake. Naturally occurring fats contain the essential fatty acids you need for optimum health. On the other hand the fats from hydrogenated oils are linked to heart disease, infertility, cancer, obesity and PMS. So as you take a sensible move toward better eating and organics do remove these harmful fats from your diet. This will allow your body to begin healing itself. Return from Trans Fats to Processed Foods
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