What are trans fats?
Trans fats are vegetable oils fats that have been chemically altered in an artificial process called hydrogenation that turns the vegetable oil into a solid fat.
Trans fats are in many processed foods and are mainly used because they are cheap, can add bulk to products, have a neutral flavour and can give products a long shelf life. Trans fats have no nutritional value at all.
Trans fats are unhealthy because they can increase your levels of high cholesterol and also has been linked to fertility problems. A U.S Study found that just 4g of trans fats a day could lead a women to become infertile
Trans fats are created through a process called hydrogenation. Any foods that contain hydrogenated fats or oils may also contain trans fats.
Tips to avoid trans fats:
- Look at food labels and avoid foods with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated or shortenings in them.
- Opt for fruit as a healthy snack instead of crisps, biscuits or cakes.
- try to avoid fast foods, pastries and unhealthy treats
- Use liquid oils such as olive oli or vegetable oil for frying.
More information from NHS Diet site
What is hydrogenation?
This is the process of adding hydrogen to liquid unsaturated oil to convert it into a solid saturated fat or ‘hydrogenated fat’. Margarine is one of the most well known forms of transfats to be more convenient and have a longer shelf life than butter.
What is more unhealthy, a trans fats or saturated fats?
It is now widely accepted that trans-fats are worse for human health than the saturated animal fats they were invented to replace.
Why are trans fats bad for us?
Trans fats cannot be properly digested by the body due to the unnatural shape of the fat molecule.
Are trans fats dangerous?
Trans fats are not dangerous or toxic, but they cannot be digested properly and should avoid eating them if possible.
Can good oils turn into trans fats by frying?
Good oils such as olive oil or sunflower oil cannot be turned into a trans fat by frying, roasting or cooking. A trans fat can only be created through the hygrodenation process.
Why are trans fats so bad for you?
They are very much like saturated fats and are likely to increase the bad cholesterol and increase your risk of heart disease if eaten over a long period of time.
Do margarines contain trans fats?
Most modern margarines are now produced in a way that does not create trans fats, infact some are very good for you and can be a healthier alternative to butter, but you must choose the healthy ones and ALWAYS CHECK THE LABEL!
