Get Savvy About Fat (page 2 of 3)

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A New Public Enemy

Saturated fat pales in comparison to a worse evil. Lurking in french fries and any packaged food with the words "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" on the label, trans fats (also referred to as trans fatty acids) are often called hidden fats because they masquerade as "healthy" vegetable oil. But their original chemical composition has been changed, resulting in a higher melting point and longer shelf life. Unfortunately, what's good for the food industry is bad for the arteries: Trans fats are at least as harmful to your arteries as saturated fats. In September 2002 the National Academy of Sciences made it official, concluding that these fats were as bad as, if not worse than, saturated fat in raising coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The only safe amount to eat, concludes the Academy, is none.

Trans fats not only raise LDL more than saturated fats do, but they also lower HDL (high-density lipoprotein). Small wonder, then, that Harvard researchers estimate that these fats should be blamed for nearly 30,000 premature deaths every year in the United States.

Major sources of trans fats include:

• Anything made with partially hydrogenated oils, such as crackers, cookies, doughnuts, breads, and frozen waffles.


• Corn puffs, popcorn, chips.


• French fries or chicken fried in hydrogenated shortening.


• Stick margarines and vegetable oil spreads; some tub margarines may also contain trans fats.

In fall 2002 the FDA announced it would require that food producers list the amount of trans fats on product labels, along with other nutrition facts.

One fast-food giant has already made a move against trans fats: In September 2002, McDonald's announced it would reduce the amount of trans fats in its french fries and other fried foods. To do that it switched to a variety of corn and soybean oils high in polyunsaturated fats but lower in saturated and trans fats. Lest you be fooled into thinking french fries have now moved into the "healthy" category on the nutrition chart, think again. The switch doesn't affect calories, which, in a super-sized order of fries equal 610, a whopping 43 percent of them coming from fat. If you eat the whole order of fries solo, you'll get 29 grams of fat -- somewhere in the neighborhood of half your entire day's allowance.

• Are Trans Fats the Worst Fats?
• Resist these diet dangers.
• 
• Hidden Sources of Trans Fat
• Make smarter food choices with our handy guide to common items' trans fat content.
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• 10 Effortless Ways to Factor Out Bad Fat
• Small changes to restore some health to your diet.
• 
• Banish Bad Fat
• Learn about fats and get lean the right way
• 
• Put Your Pizza on a Diet
• Modifications you can make to keep cheese pies in your life.
• 
• Improve Your Cholesterol With Olive Oil
• Embrace this versatile oil to lower your risk.
• 
• "Magic" Margarines for Lower Cholesterol
• These spreads can actually help your heart.
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