What is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils?

Question

What exactly is hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils?
I mean, what does is do exactly to your body?
How dangerous is it to you and what can it do?
What foods have or will most likely include hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in them?
How do you avoid them; what sorts of food usually do not have them?

I'm trying to find out what hydrogenated oils exactly are. I've searched around on the web, but I can't find anything that gives a specific answer or an answer in simple words. If anyone can help explain in simple words, then thanks!

Answer 1

Hydrogenated oils are oils that are have been heated and then had hydrogen gas bubbles passed through them. This allows the manufacturer to create a solid out of an oil. Even more important, that oil will remain solid at room temperature. An example of a hydrogenated oil is Crisco or other vegetable shortenings. Margarine also contains hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oil.

Because hydrogenated oils are cheaper than butter, food manufacturers will add them to foods that normally would call for butter -- cookies, for example.

So why are they so bad for you?

The hydrogenation process creates trans isomers -- or trans fats. Unlike other fats, trans fats are neither required nor beneficial for health. Without getting into all of the scientific details (see the link at the bottom for more info), trans fats block the action of "good", essential fats in the body and disrupt a whole host of body processes.

A comprehensive review of studies of trans fats was published in 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine that concludes that there is a strong and reliable connection between trans fat consumption and coronary heart disease.

Consumption of hydrogenated oil has also been linked with diabetes, reproductive problems and obesity in a wide number of scientific studies.

Answer 2

A lot of processed foods have hydrogenated oils! Chips most crackers margarine, some of the "diet" butters. Coffee creamers. LOTS of stuff. your best bet is to stay away from them, your body cannot process it like a natural food. Check every label before you buy it, it really does count when you are trying to lose body fat. For more info visit us at http://www.womensdietandfitness.com