Jump on the Trans Fat-Free Bandwagon for a Healthier Ride

Dr. Cherry

Last December it was announced that New York City is banning trans fats from all its restaurants. Since then, other cities and major fast food chains have followed. Even Starbucks, the huge coffee conglomerate, announced at the beginning of the year that it, too, was jumping on the trans fat-free bandwagon.

Long used to extend the shelf life and enhance the texture of foods (making some foods crunchier and creamier and others less greasy), trans fats now have the bad rap they deserve. That's because trans fats raise "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower "good" HDL cholesterol, as well as have other harmful effects on our health. In addition to raising a person's risk of developing diabetes, trans fats may increase inflammation in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Among being linked to a number of serious medical conditions and diseases, it's believed that inflammation plays a key role in the formation of fatty blockages in heart blood vessels and that trans fat appears to damage the cells lining blood vessels, leading to inflammation.

So how much trans fat is considered bad for you? It's not known yet exactly how much or at what amount of trans fat will have a negative impact on your cholesterol levels. However, the American Heart Association recommends that no more than one percent of your total daily calories be trans fat. So if you consume 2,000 calories a day, that amounts to only two grams or less of trans fat. Not much, considering a large serving of french fries at some restaurants can contain five grams or more of trans fat and half a doughnut can contain two grams.

Since January 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required that manufacturers list the amount of trans fat on food labels. However, if a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat, it can be listed as "0 grams" on the label. So if you're not careful, you can exceed the recommended daily amount of trans fat if you eat multiple servings of these products. It's best to look on the nutrition label for words like "partially hydrogenated oils" and "shortening" - both clues that the item contains trans fats.

In my next e-newsletter, I'll reveal the major culprits among supermarket products that contain trans fat along with good fat alternatives.

For more information on Dr. Cherry's ministry, visit his Web site: www.AbundantNutrition.com.