There is a specific type of fat that you should never eat. It can be found in processed peanut butter, crackers, snacks, baked goods, potato chips, french fries, cookies, pie crusts, margarine, vegetable shortening, and hundreds of other foods.
The fat i’m referring to is trans fats. Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat that’s produced industrially from vegetables fats. This process began in the 1950s.
How are these fats produced industrially? Trans fats are formed when manufacturers turn liquid oils into solid fats. These fats are created through a process called hydrogenation.
There is a second type of trans fat that is important to know about. It comes from meat and dairy products. This is a natural trans fat that is much healthier than the industrial form.
The trans fats found in dairy and meat are formed when bacteria in the animals stomach digest grass. These trans fats make up for around 2-9% of the fat found in dairy, beef, and other meats.
Trans fats from animals have been reported healthy to eat. One of the popular trans fats found in animals is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This fat has been extensively researched and many people take CLA in supplement form because of the health benefits it provides.
It’s the opposite with industrial created trans fats. They should never be eaten if you want to reduce your risk of heart disease, reduce inflammation, lower ldl cholesterol, and many other health complications.
Another common health condition fueled by man made trans fats is endothelial dysfunction. This condition damages the inner lining of your blood vessels.
If you’re trying to remove trans fats from your diet, I would highly suggest eating a clean diet that eliminates processed foods. You can download my free meal plan below.
What sells food manufacturers on trans fats is the fact that they have a very long shelf life. The best way to avoid trans fats is by being a label reader. If you read the ingredients list of a product and see the words hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, then the product contains trans fats.
A shocking study found that store bought soybean and canola oil had trans fat contents between 0.56% to 4.2% (Source). Avoiding these 2 oils in general is a good idea to reduce your consumption of trans fats.
What foods have surprised you with trans fats in them? Are you reading labels to ensure that you’re avoiding trans fats? ')}
