For years now we've been writing about the potential risks of consuming foods that contain trans fat from partially hydrogenated and hydrogenated oils. Research has shown that the consumption of trans fats increases one's risk of heart disease by elevating "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and decreasing "good" HDL cholesterol levels.
To further clarify the trans fat story and understand where it is coming from, here is a brief lesson in hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is the process performed in a laboratory, whereas liquid vegetable oil is converted into solid fat. Partially hydrogenated oils contain trans fatty acids, also known as trans fats. When liquid vegetable oil is 100% hydrogenated, there is virtually no trans fat. The resulting fat is extra solid, waxy, and firm consistency, even at room temperature. Completely hydrogenated oils are actually less damaging than partially hydrogenated fats and do not appear to have the same effects on raising cholesterol in the blood. We're going to focus solely on the partially hydrenated oils here.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology reports that consumption of trans fats increases the risk for colon cancer. Participants in this study who reported the highest consumption of trans fats had an increased incidence of colorectal adenomas. After further investigation, the authors of the study went on to suggest that indeed consumption of trans fats was linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Other studies have linked the consumption of trans fat with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, obesity (which increases your risk for coronary heart disease and diabetes), elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) (which again increases your risk for heart disease), and other cancers. A 2007 study linked trans fat consumption with ovulatory infertility in women. There is just no good reason to allow trans fat into your diet.
It is crucial to read labels if you want to make sure the products you are bringing home are free of trans fats. Chances are if you are buying bread, rolls, pastries, muffins, or cake in a conventional grocery store, they will contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil = trans fat. Ask your local grocers bakery manager which products are free of these unhealthy oils and put in a request to remove these oils from their in-house products. Write letters to companies requesting that they remove these oils from their products. Again, make it a habit of reading labels. Remember, a label is still allowed to proclaim a product "trans-fat free" if the product contains less than 1% trans fat, however, no safe level of trans fat has been determined. In fact, there is no recommended daily level for trans fat consumption.
Now is the time to clean out the pantry. Read the labels on all of your crackers, cookies, cereals, breads, cakes, soups, frozen goods and baking products like shortening. Make sure you get rid of the foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils of all types.
