What's trans fat and how do you know what foods it's in?

Question

I know it's bad and I want to try to avoid it

Answer 1

on the nutrition table on the back of the box/bag of the product, there is a column that says how much trans fat is in it.

Answer 2

Trans fat is a very nasty substance indeed. It is a type of fat that was created by actually changing the molecular structure of existing saturated fats with the intent of creating longer shelf lives. The theory worked, however, since the human body has no idea how to break this fat down and metabolize it into energy, it all just ends up as stored bofy fat with almost no ability to burn off. You find it in foods with long shelf lives. Look in the ingredients list for anything that says "partially hydrogenated cottonseed or soybean oils." In the nutritional information fequired on all foods, it will be labeled directly under saturated fats. Foods common to trans fat are anything made by hostess or little debbie, fast food, some crackers and snacks like Gardettos or those little cheese crackers for a quarter. Start paying attention. You will figure out where to spot it. It really is a good thing to avoid. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

Fat occurs naturally, but Trans fats only occur in manufactured foods during the process of partial hydrogenation, when hydrogen gas is bubbled through vegetable oil to increase shelf life and stabilize the original polyunsatured oil. The resulting fat is similar to saturated fat, which raises "bad" LDL cholesterol and can lead to clogged arteries and heart disease.

If something didn't grow from the ground or wasn't born it has trans fat. manufacturers don't have to tell you that foods have trans fat in them.

Answer 4

Definitions of trans fat on the Web:

vegetable oil that has been treated with hydrogen in order to make it more solid and give it a longer shelf life.
uuhsc.utah.edu/healthinfo/adult/cardiac/glossary.htm

Trans fat is a type of processed fat that does not occur in nature (also called hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat/oil). Used in baked goods like doughnuts, breads, crackers, potato chips, cookies and many other processed food products like margarine and salad dressings.
www.1st-for-health.com/low-carb/article2.htm

A trans fatty acid (commonly shortened to trans fat) is an unsaturated fatty acid whose molecules contain trans double bonds between carbon atoms, which makes the molecules less kinked compared to those of 'cis fat'. Research suggests a correlation between diets high in trans fats and diseases like atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. The National Academy of Sciences recommended in 2002 that dietary intake of trans fatty acids be minimized.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat

Answer 5

Transfat is a fat molecule that has artificially been bombarded with hydrogen. It is very bad for you. Clogs your arteries and your heard, leading to heart attacks and strokes. In the grocery store, transfats are listed in nutrition labels. In fast food restaurants you have to ask for nutritional info. Fast foods that are fried in oil usually have nasty trans fats in them. The less processing your food has been subjected to, the less the chance of transfats.

Answer 6

Look for "partially hydrogenated" oils in the ingredients list. Foods are allowed to advertise 0% trans fat, even if they have .5g or less...so that can be misguiding.

Answer 7

All those store bought snacks have it. Cookies, cakes, crackers. The fat has been changes so that it will survive on the shelf longer so it is in just about every commercially produced snack food.