2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Foods rich in trans fats are high in calories and pose a serious danger to human health. Undoubtedly, these fats are a safe and slow poison, which, however, is present in most foods in stores.
Trans fatty acids of higher fatty acids are obtained by heating liquid vegetable fats to a high temperature, in the presence of hydrogen and catalysts. This is a process known as hydrogenation.
As a result of the chemical reaction, the vegetable fats harden, as in margarine. The more hydrogenated an oil is, the harder it is at room temperature.
The fats that a person eats with food are of three types - saturated, unsaturated and trans fats. Saturated ones are of animal origin, and there are no double bonds in their structure, which is why they are solid at room temperature.
The unsaturated fats contained in olive oil and vegetable oil have double bonds in their molecule and are liquid at room temperature.
Harm from trans fats
It has been scientifically proven that trans fats are harmful to health. They increase the levels of bad cholesterol and at the same time reduce the levels of good cholesterol in the blood.
This double-negative effect between the two types of cholesterol is twice as strong as the effect of animal fats.
Foods with trans fats not only lead to weight gain, but also store body fat in the abdomen. Abdominal fat carries a high risk of cardiovascular disease.
In consumers more often trans fats higher insulin resistance is also observed, which is a prerequisite for the development of diabetes.
Trans fats put so much strain on the cardiovascular system that, according to the Harvard Institute, replacing them with liquid vegetable fats would prevent up to 30,000 deaths a year in the United States alone.
Trans fats can cause blockage of blood vessels, diabetes, permanently increase blood pressure and pose a serious risk of cardiovascular problems.
They are not harmless even in minimal doses. Undoubtedly you eat with trans fats are a serious problem of modern society, due to the damage and disease they are proven to cause.
Foods with trans fats
If trans fats are so harmful, why are they present in so many foods? The answer is very simple - they enrich the taste and aroma of food, are cheaper, extend the shelf life. The main source of trans fats of processed foods is hydrogenated oil.
Other major sources of harmful fats are chips, semi-finished soups, biscuits, concentrated sauces, waffles, candies, cakes, pies, french fries in fast food chains.
Naturally, trans fats appear in meat and dairy products. The higher the fat content of these products, the higher the trans fat levels.
Regulation of foods with trans fats
In some US states, the use of trans fats for cooking in restaurants is prohibited. The European Union recommends noting the contents trans fats in the products and a possible complete ban on artificial trans fats. When checking the label, watch not only for hydrogenated but also for partially hydrogenated oils.
In our country trans fats are widely used because they are cheap and highly durable. There is no law that requires mandatory spelling of the exact weights of trans fats. On the other hand, they very often go under the general designation of vegetable fats.
Trans fat substitutes
Trans fats should be replaced by foods that are prepared with olive oil, sunflower, flaxseed and soybean oil. Olive oil is most useful because it is rich in monounsaturated fats. Cold pressed has ideal health qualities.
In general, the consumption of processed and fried foods should be limited. The intake of fats of animal origin should be reduced.
According to the American Heart Association, the consumption of trans fats should be reduced to less than 1% of total caloric intake for the day.
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