what is transfat? and what kind of food can it be found?

Answer 1

Trans fatty acids or trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat. There are two conformations the cis- type and the trans- type. Chemically, the differenece between the two is where the hydrogen molecules on adjacent double bonded carbons are. If they're on the same side, it's a cis- fat, if they're on opposite sides, it's a trans- fat.

Trans fats are found in small amounts in natural foods such meat and dairy products of ruminants. The actual fat orginates in the rumen, one of the stomachs of animals such as cows. These however are found in very small amounts and do not have quite the impact as do artificially produced trans fats.

The major source of trans fat consumed today is from partial hydrogenation of plant oils and animal fats. Partially hydrogenated oils and fats have mostly replaced more natural sources of fat or oil in the fast food, snack food, fried food and baked goods industry. Some fast food restaurants like Taco Bell are making the move away from trans fats due to its health concerns and bad publicity. Of the household cooking ingredients, vegetable shortening has by far the most trans fats in it.

Recent studies on trans fat have shown a strong connection between trans fat intake and coronary heart disease. Also, trans fat has been shown to increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels while decreasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood.

There are also suspected connections between trans-fat and diabetes and obesity, but no studies have been concluded to prove it.

The National Academy of Science has concluded that since trans fats are not essential fatty acids and have been linked to life threatening diseases that there is no safe level of trans fat consumption. Much like cigarettes, there is no such thing as a safe trans fat.

Answer 2

Transfat = Partially Hydrogenated Oil

The main thing it can be found in is Crisco.

Many people will say that you have to watch out for it at all costs, but truthfully, it's not really anything to worry about.

Answer 3

To add to Mark's excellent answer, many baked goods particularly cakes & cookies are made with trans-fats because they do not degrade easily (translation: even bacteria are smart enough not to want to eat them)

;-)