What Are Trans Fats, and Why Are They So Bad?

(Borrowed from Health and Fitness by ArcaMax) Although consumption of artificial trans fats is already on the decline, FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg said further reductions could save 7,000 lives each year. What are trans fats? Answer: These fats, also, known as trans fatty acids, are made by adding hydrogen to liquid oil, which turns it into a solid, like margarine or Crisco. This makes it a handy ingredient for processed food manufacturers, since it improves the texture, stability & shelf life. It's, also, inexpensive. Today, it's often used in foods including microwave popcorn, coffee creamers, packaged cookies, cans of frosting, frozen pizza, and more. Where does it come from? Answer: Trans fats are a natural component of animal products, such as milk & meat. The FDA says that it is synthesized in the guts of grazing animals. Artificial trans fats were invented in 1901 by Wilhelm Normann. The German chemist added hydrogen gas to liquid oils & came up with a cheaper alternative to natural products like lard & butter. For many years, these partially hydrogenated oils were believed to be safer than trans fats from animals, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, or CSPI. But by the early 1990s, epidemiologists were realizing that the fats contributed to heart disease. Why are trans fats bad for your health? Answer: It increases blood levels of the "bad", LDL cholesterol. High levels of LDL increase one's risk of coronary heart disease, including angina, heart attacks & other potentially fatal problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To make matters worse, researchers, also, believe that trans fats reduce blood levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol. HDL appears to reduce heart risks by funneling blood cholesterol to the liver, where it's broken down & removed from the body. There's also evidence that HDL slows the buildup of dangerous plaques in the arteries, the American Heart Association says.
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