The trans fat controversy....so many other bad things out there.....?

Question

Ok, this is personal opinion, but I think there are worst things in the food industry than trans fats. I mean, they've been in existence for a long time, and I commend those people that made the food industry put labels about trans fats and made the public aware of trans fats. But doesn't the public know about the basic dangers like refined sugar, aspartame, RBGH in the milk supply, and other health risks? What do you think? thanks for your opinions.

Answer 1

Trans fat is potentially a much, much greater risk to the public health than the other things you mention, because up until a couple of years ago when the negative reports started showing up about what trans fat can do to your coronary arteries, it was in EVERYTHING! Now companies have started removing it because of the bad press, but to get restaurants to stop using it will take something stronger, like the ban NYC is putting into place. When was the last time you saw nutritional information on a menu in a restaurant?

Answer 2

Some fats have uses in our cellular structure (omega 3's and omega 6's). Trans fatty acids are isomers or these fats and have the missing hydrogen pairs across (across = trans in latin) from each other.

This gives the molecule the wrong shape which will cause damage to the cells when the body tries to use them like the omega 3's & 6's. This cellular damage can cause weakened tissue, cancer, heart disease, and other problems.

Basically, having a toxin in your system is bad enough. However, having a toxic substance incorporated into your cellular structure (in this case) is disastrous.

Here is a link with more info.
http://www.spartafit.com/nutrition/essential%20fats.htm

P.S. I have been warning people about these up to 14 years ago and this was known by science over 20 years prior to then.

Answer 3

Sure there are bad things out there: Aspartame was originally developed as an ant poison for instance. And when I was young, I got quite a few nosebleeds from eating too much refined sugar.

But in moderation, little harm is actually done. Otherwise, a lot of these warnings are just repeats of the old story about the boy who cried wolf when there was none.