Trans FatsFall 2013

Test your knowledge•1. Margarine is healthier than butter•2. If a nutrition label says “0 grams trans

fat” than it has no trans fat•3. Cutting out trans fats will make you

lose weight

What are Trans Fats•A very small amount of the trans fats

people eat does come from natural sources, mainly meat and animal products.

•A chemical process called hydrogenation produces the vast majority of trans fats in people’s diets.

What are they?Hydrogenation turns liquid

vegetable oil into a more solid type of fat.

Where do you find it?•In some of your favorite foods, from

French fries to breakfast cereal.

Why is it used?•Restaurants and manufacturers use trans

fats in their food to add taste and texture. •Trans fats make fries crispy and delicious,

give pies their flaky crust, and give doughnuts their rich, gooey feel.

•Long shelf life = bigger profits

Your health•Studies came out linking saturated fat to

high cholesterol and heart disease. People abandoned butter in favor of what they thought was healthier, vegetable-based margarine

Your health•Trans fats raise levels of low-density

lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. •Not only do they raise bad LDL

cholesterol, but they also lower the “good” high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

Your health•They also raise levels of triglycerides, a

form of fat in the blood, and they increase the amount of lipoprotein (a), a substance made up of protein and fat that transports cholesterol in the blood.

Diseases linked to diets high in trans fat•Heart disease•Cancer•Diabetes•Asthma•Obesity

How to avoid trans fats•Every single “Nutrition Facts” label on

the side of a food package lists trans fats. Try to stick to foods that contain 0 grams of trans fats.

•Some trans fats are carefully hidden.

How to avoid trans fats•Read the ingredients•Eat whole foods

How to avoid trans fats•Knowing how much trans fat is in your

food gets a bit harder when you eat out. Some fast-food restaurants now list the nutritional content of their foods, including trans fat, on their Web sites

Grab a laptop•What can you find out about your favorite

restaurant chain?▫Do they use trans fat?▫What claims do they make about trans fats?▫What foods can you eat off their menu that

are likely to not have trans fats?▫Be prepared to report back to your

classmates