Health Benefits Center

The Dangers of Trans Fats, (partially) Hydrogenated Oils, Trans Fatty Acids

Trans fats are artificially produced fats that are very unhealthy. The consumption of trans fats is one of the main causes for the current obesity epidemic. Trans fats are used in thousands of food products. www.naturalnews.com The health risks of trans fats include hart disease, obesity, cancer, clogged arteries, high cholesterol, diabetes, birth defects, allergies in children, etc. Food manufactures use (partially) hydrogenated oils because it increases the shelf life of their products. This means less spoilage, less loss and therefore more profit! In addition, products with trans fat tend to taste quite good. Trans fats are used in fast food, chips, baked goods, french fries, etc. Trans fats are produced through the hydrogenation of vegetable oils such as sunflower and soybean oil. During this chemical process hydrogen molecules are added to the oil molecules and the oil becomes solid as is the case with margarine. When consuming natural fats, it takes the body 18 days to metabolize half of them. When consuming trans fats, it takes the body 51 days to metabolize half of them. This means that half of the trans fats you eat will still be in your body 51 days later! No wonder obesity has become such an epidemic. www.becomehealthynow.com Food products will contain trans fat if they include any of the following ingredients: (partially) hydrogenated oil or fat, shortening, margarine. Butter also contains a small amount of natural trans fat. This is not as harmful as the man ...