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TRANS FAT AND HEALTH

Trans Fat and Health  Heart disease and obersity are increasing in frequency amongst young people in all countries. Some blame this on a lack of exercise and the propensity to eat junk food. Although being a couch potato is a major contributing factor, the greatest contributor to obersity is the consumption of trans fats. Trans fat is created by adding hydrogen to plant oils to crease “unsaturated fats”. This gives the plant oils a higher melting temperature (which helps with baking) and a longer shelf life, making them more commercially viable. Since no trans fat is found in nature. It is not beneficial to our health. In fact, it increases our cholesterol level and thereby increases the risk of heart disease. Adding hydrogen to fat was pioneered by Paul Sabatier, and he earned a Nobel Prize for his efforts Proctor & Gamble, a U.S company, was the first to market a commercial product with unsaturated fat in 1911 called Crisco Shortening. The product became hugely popular after they distributed a free cookbook filled with recipes calling for Crisco Shortening. The products was cheap, and it was also said to be healthier than saturated fats like butter. It will untill 1987 that critics began to speak out against trans fat. In 1994, it was estimated that over 30,000 people died of heart disease associated with trans fats. Crisco, facing a possible ban on their Shortening, had a change of heart and made an effort to remove trans fats from their products. Last years, over 12,5 million Americans were diagnosed with heart disease, and more than 500,000 died. The greatest influence trans fat has on the body is an increase in the risk of heart disease. A 1976 study of 120,000 nurses showed that for every 2% increase in trans fat consumed, the risk of heart disease doubled. Heart disease is not the only negative health effect, diabetes, obesity, liver dysfunction and infertility go hand in hand with trans fat consumption. A six-year experiment on monkeys found that, even though all monkeys consumed the same number of calories per day, monkeys who are trans fats gained 7,2% of their body weight. Monkeys who consumed no trans fat only gained 1,8% of their body weight. All food labels are required to show amounts of trans fat. Try to choose products with lower amounts of fat. Use alternate fats like monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats (olive, canola, soy bean, corn and sunflower oils) Avoid foods high in trans fats such as cookies, cakes and chips if you want to stay in shape.