The Truth About Trans Fat
Hardly a day goes by when you don’t hear something about trans fat – either on the television news, in a magazine or a newspaper, or maybe even a conversation at work.
You may have heard that some cities have passed legislation restricting the use of trans fats in restaurants, and many other cities are considering passing similar legislation. Some states and cities are considering legislation that would require food establishments to list the amount of trans fat in their menu items.
We all know that trans fat is bad for you…it tends to raise your cholesterol levels, which in turn increases your risk of heart disease. Some scientists believe that trans fat actually raises your cholesterol levels more than saturated fats.
What is trans fat?
A trans fat is produced when a food manufacturer takes a vegetable oil and adds hydrogen to it. In other words, liquid oil is made into solid fat, such as shortening and hard margarine / butter. This process, called hydrogenation, increases the shelf life and the flavor stability of food containing these products. Trans fats are found in food such as crackers, candy, cookies, and fried foods.
FDA regulations
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