| Where have you been hiding? I have never heard | | | | hydrogenation is used. This is when the unhealthy |
| of you and now you are a media hog. How long | | | | trans fats are formed. Fully hydrogenated oils do |
| have you been hiding in my food? How much | | | | not contain trans fats. New products from Crisco |
| damage have you done over all these years that | | | | are coming to the market that can blend several |
| I have been trying so heard to live a healthy | | | | oils together and then fully hydrogenate them |
| lifestyle? Now that you have been brought out | | | | without creating a trans fat. Crisco uses several |
| from the shadows I am going to be aware of all | | | | unsaturated oils (soy and sunflower) blended with |
| the places you may hide from me and I won't let | | | | cottonseed oil to produce a soft texture |
| you affect my health anymore.Trans fatty acids | | | | product.How do I locate trans fats on the food |
| (trans fats) were once seen as a healthy | | | | label?Trans fats will be listed under the total fat |
| alternative to the high amount of saturated fats | | | | section on the food label. It is recommended to |
| butter consisted of. You can finally thank the | | | | keep trans fats and saturated fats to minimal |
| government for stepping up and providing some | | | | levels. There is no Daily Value percentage (%DV) |
| good solid information in helping us in the ever | | | | for trans fats. Saturated fats %DV should be |
| ending food label confusion. If you haven't heard | | | | below 20%DV with healthier recommendations of |
| about the new labeling laws the government set | | | | 5%DV or lower. You will come across products |
| forth, you haven't been paying attention to the | | | | that will have 0 grams trans fats but will have |
| products you are buying.Starting in January 2006, | | | | partially hydrogenated oils in the ingredient list. The |
| the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published | | | | FDA final rule allows companies to not list trans |
| a final rule requiring all food manufacturers' to list | | | | fats if the product contains 0.5 grams or less per |
| trans fatty acids on the products food label. This | | | | serving size. Check the serving size and how |
| is the first major change on the label since 1993. | | | | many servings are in the package to find out the |
| The FDA has confirmed a relationship between | | | | total amount in the whole carton, bag, or can. If a |
| the intake of trans fats and an increased risk of | | | | product has 0.5 grams per serving and the |
| coronary heart disease (CHD). According to 2003 | | | | container has 6 servings, you could consume |
| statistics from the American Heart Association | | | | three grams of trans fats if you eat the whole |
| (AHA), CHD is the single leading cause of death in | | | | container. This would be a high intake of trans |
| America, which accounts for 479,305 deaths. | | | | fats in anybody's diet. "Shortening" listed on the |
| Many other health organizations have reports | | | | food label will also indicate some trans fats are |
| stating that consumption of trans fats contribute | | | | present in the food.Illustration 1 |
| to increased LDL (bad) cholesterol.What are trans | | | | (Food Label- Highlight Total Fat, Saturated Fat |
| fats and where do they come from?Trans fats | | | | and Trans Fat)Trans fats are also found in nature. |
| are formed when vegetable oils are hardened to | | | | Foods of animal origin include: butter, milk |
| form margarine or shortening, called | | | | products, beef and cheese. These foods also |
| hydrogenation. Many manufacturers use trans fats | | | | provide vital minerals and nutrients and should not |
| to reduce costs, improve the shelf life of certain | | | | be totally eliminated from the diet in order to |
| products and improve taste and texture, a great | | | | avoid their trans fats.Trans fats will be found in |
| selling tool. This is why you can't have just one, | | | | foods such as crackers, cookies, candies, fries |
| which was a great advertising tool from a major | | | | foods, baked goods, bagged snack foods, and |
| company years ago.Partial hydrogenation creates | | | | most processed foods that have partially |
| a semi solid material raising a products melting | | | | hydrogenated vegetable oil in the ingredient list.It is |
| point, which is extremely useful for baking. Trans | | | | estimated that the average adult intake of trans |
| fats are man made or processed fats that are | | | | fats in the United States is approximately five to |
| developed when hydrogen is added to the oil and | | | | six grams per day. Experts agree that saturated |
| then pressurized in the presence of a metal | | | | fats can be beneficial for the human body when |
| catalyst, hence the term hydrogenation. This | | | | consumed in moderation. They do not say the |
| process changes the chemical structure of a fat | | | | same about trans fats. It is recommended to |
| and some atoms end up on different sides of the | | | | keep trans fats out of your intake as much as |
| fatty acid chain. Trans in Latin means "across". In | | | | possible.Make wiser choices.Choose vegetable oils |
| a fatty acid, the hydrogen atoms are on the | | | | (except coconut and palm), tub or spray |
| same side of the acid chain. Hydrogenation | | | | margarines (these contain a lower combined |
| re-configures these bonds. The body metabolizes | | | | amount of saturated and trans fats), low fat |
| trans fats differently in the liver than it does for | | | | dairy products, leaner cuts of meats, fresh fish, |
| natural fatty acids, therefore causing some health | | | | whole grains, and of course colorful fruits and |
| risks.Partially Hydrogenated vs. HydrogenatedIf a | | | | vegetables.Limit your intake of egg yolks, bagged |
| product is fully hydrogenated it would be too solid | | | | snacks, pastries, fried food and most fast |
| for most uses. To keep margarines and | | | | food.ProductServing size Trans fats g |
| shortenings softer and easier to use, partial | | | | Butter 1 tbsp. 0. |