On the news yesterday was a statement that the FDA is considering a ban on trans fat in processed foods, with a sixty day comment period open for public opinion and how it would affect small businesses, etc. Trans fat should definently be avoided for cardiac and vascular health reasons, Trans fat is made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil to make it more solid. It actually changes the shape of the fat molecules so that they pack more tightly together, thus contributing to plaque build up in arteries causing heart attacks, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and even blood flow blockage to the brain, and it is of my opinion that the FDA should protect us from the food corporations bombarding us with these type of food additives. What do you think? Read about it all yourself with this link, then let your opinion be heard.
http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm372915.htm
The FDA recommends that in the meantime consumers Choose the product that has the lowest amounts of saturated fat, cholesterol and trans fat combined. This is sound advice, however I would taker it further and do your best to eliminate trans fat, and minimize saturated fat getting your cholesterol from healthy foods such as eggs instead of fatty pastries for example. Also remember that
even if packaging claims to have "0 grams trans fat," if the food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, they can make that claim. If partially hydrogenated oil is listed in the ingredients, there is a small amount of trans fat. Even eating these foods can add up to a lot, consider most people eat two to three times a suggested serving size, this with two different foods could easily add up to 3 or more grams of trans fat in a day, when we really should have almost zero except for what natural occurs in meats.
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