The Health Risks Of Trans Fats

Trans fats or trans fatty acids are unsaturated fats which are uncommon in nature but can be created artificially. This type of fat is edible but high consumption may lead to various kinds of diseases. It increases bad cholesterol level and decreases good cholesterol level.

Trans fats are found naturally in small amount in meat and dairy products from ruminant animals (cud-chewing animals). Vaccenic acid is an example of natural trans fat. Animal-based fats were once the only trans fat consumed. Nowadays, there is huge consumption of trans fat created by hydrogenated foods.

Trans fat is made by adding Hydrogen to a fat or oil, a process called Hydrogenation. Foods that are hydrogenated are labelled as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated.

Oils or Fats are hydrogenated for many reasons:

● Increases product shelf life
● To keep food fresh longer
● To maintain the form of foods at room temperature
● Substitute for expensive oils
● Enhances taste and texture
● For dietary rules such as Halal
● Less greasy feel

Hydrogenated fats are not generally recognised as safe in United States. In other countries, there are legal limits to trans fat content. Hydrogenated food products are required to indicate the amount of trans fat on their labels (nutrition facts panel).

The primary reason trans fats are harmful to the body is its hydrogen content. Hydrogen is difficult to digest. High consumption of hydrogenated foods or trans fats can lead to various health problems.

Some common foods high in trans fat:

● doughnuts
● cookies
● pizza
● crackers and biscuits
● margarine

Diseases Caused By High Consumption Of Trans Fats

1. Coronary heart disease
Trans fat increases levels of bad cholesterol that may block coronary arteries.

2. Alzheimers disease
A study on rats, trans fats impaired memory and learning in middle-age rats. These rats have fewer brain proteins that are essential to healthy neurological function.

3. Cancer
The exact mechanism is unclear but trans fats are said to raise the risk of breast cancer by 75%.

4. Diabetes
Trans fats may raise your risk of type 2 diabetes.

5. Obesity
Obviously, trans fat is a fat. It accelerates weight gain particularly by accumulation of abdominal fat.

6. Liver dysfunction
Trans fats interfere with delta 6 desaturase, an enzyme involved in conversion of essential fatty acids.

7. Depression
It was found out by Spanish researchers that those who ate the most trans fats had a 48% higher risk of depression compared to those who didn't ate any.