What is transfat and is it bad for you?

Question

My aunt always watches food labels for transfat. She says it is not good for you. Could somebody explain why or why not? Thanks! Best answer will get 10 points.

Answer 1

Unlike other fats, the majority of trans fat is formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine. However, a small amount of trans fat is found naturally, primarily in some animal-based foods. Essentially, trans fat is made when hydrogen is added to vegetable oil -- a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing these fats.

Trans fat, like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, raises the LDL (or "bad") cholesterol that increases your risk for CHD. On average, Americans consume 4 to 5 times as much saturated fat as trans fat in their diet.

Although saturated fat is the main dietary culprit that raises LDL, trans fat and dietary cholesterol also contribute significantly. Trans fat can often be found in processed foods made with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils such as vegetable shortenings, some margarines (especially margarines that are harder), crackers, candies, cookies, snack foods, fried foods, and baked goods.




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Answer 2

Trans fat is any hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil. If you want a visual of trans fat it is basically shortening (Crisco). Even items that state "0 grams trans fat" sometimes contain these oils, only in small amounts. Take a look at peanut butter. All natural peanut butter, containing peanuts and salt, always has oil the top of it, because the oil seperates when sitting. Other peanut butters (Skippy, Jif, Peter Pan, etc) contain these hydrogenated oils and therefore the oil does not seperate because they "stick" together, much like how they stick in your arteries. To get a better look at what transfat looks like, 1Tbsp of crisco contains 1.5g trans fat.. so when you are eating food w/transfat think of how much crisco you are eating.. this always makes me think twice.

Answer 3

Although not much research has been done on the effects of trans fat in relation to health concerns, research has correlated trans fat intake with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, low birth weight, obesity, and immune dysfunction. Of course there are alternatives, doesn't everything today seem to have an alternative? It should be mentioned that trans fat is not bad in moderation, it is excessive intake which will more than likely be the cause of problems.

Answer 4

Trans fat is an unsaturated fat - it's an additive in many foods to keep their shelf life. In the end they do more harm than good, because it raised your bad cholesterol. And of course it turns to fat quicker. Most processed foods have trans fats in them:

Answer 5

trans fat is one of the bad fats that cause your arteries to clog because its usually hydrogenated