Hidden dangers in your diet: The truth about trans fats
Proper diet is the foundation of well-being and maintaining health. The harmful effects of excess salt and sugar have been discussed for years, but another danger lurks in food that many people consume daily.
4:44 PM EST, November 11, 2024
Recent scientific discoveries confirm that trans fats are very harmful to our health. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns against their consumption. Many countries, following WHO's recommendations, have introduced bans or restrictions on using trans fats in food. Unfortunately, many people still unknowingly include them in their daily diet.
What are trans fats?
Trans fats are a type of fatty acid that can occur in two forms: natural and artificial. Natural trans fats are found in small amounts in meat and dairy products from ruminants. In this form, there's generally no need for particular concern unless you overindulge in beef. The artificial ones pose a greater risk. They are produced through the industrial hydrogenation of vegetable oils and have a much more adverse impact on health.
Artificial trans fats can threaten health by leading to an increase in "bad" LDL cholesterol and a decrease in "good" HDL cholesterol, which raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases. They can also lead to overweight, type 2 diabetes, and other serious ailments, such as colon cancer or Alzheimer's disease.
In which products can trans fats be found?
Trans fats are often hidden in food products we regularly have in our kitchens. They can be found in frozen products such as French fries, nuggets, fish sticks, or dumplings. Poor-quality baked goods like donuts, cookies, cakes, and wafers also contain them.
Be particularly cautious with highly processed products, such as canned meat, hot dogs, fast foods, ready meals, or processed cheeses.
Limit trans fats in your diet
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eliminating trans fats from diets. Denmark was a pioneer in limiting their use in food, which has contributed to improving the health of its citizens. In the European Union, a limit on trans fat content has been introduced - they cannot exceed 2% in the final product.
First and foremost, read labels. The shorter the list of ingredients and the less processed the product, the less likely it is to contain trans fats. Look for the phrase "partially hydrogenated vegetable oils." This is a synonym for trans fats. If you find this phrase on a label, put the product back on the shelf. Also, the consumption of fast food, chips, cookies, sweet drinks, ready-frozen meals, and convenience products should be limited. It's a step that will definitely benefit your health.
