The Trans Fat Ban

The pursuit to ban partially hydrogenated fats (trans fats) is quickly spreading across the country. Theme parks such as Disney and Universal Studios initially made the move to rid trans fats and soon New York City followed, with expectations to have all trans fats below 0.5g per serving by July 2008. Los Angeles is currently conducting a study to see if they can regulate these types of unhealthy foods. Before you get too excited that the food industries and the government are finally changing, here is some information for you to consume:

• The law is going to get rid of the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils used in deep fryers, and that is a good thing. However, [non-hydrogenated] vegetable oils that are heated to such high temperatures are extremely unhealthy regardless of being trans fat free. The chemical acrylamide is produced during the frying process (as well as by other means). This chemical has been identified as a neurotoxin and has been linked with certain cancers.
• A significant amount of free radicals are created during deep frying vegetable oils, typically more than when cooking with partially hydrogenated oils. Unrefined, monounsaturated oils (the healthy kind like olive oil), quickly lose their healthy benefits when heated to certain temperatures. This is true even for the common frying-type vegetable oils – corn & soy.
• Many agree that even deep frying without the partially hydrogenated oils will still create some hydrogenation. Hydrogenated oils are created in the masses by heating oils at a high temperature with a metal catalyst, typically nickel. Without the catalyst, the process would be much slower but still possible.
• Due to the extremely long half-life of a trans fat, (the time it takes your body to break just half of the fat down), even 0.5g per serving is too much. And who actually eats just one serving of most foods?!

As with all dietary concerns, you have to take your health into your own hands. Don’t expect someone else to clean up your diet for you. If that was the case, there would be no Splenda, and no Nutrasweet. Even if the entire US follows these guidelines, you will not be any healthier if you don’t change how, what, and where you eat. You should not be eating any partially hydrogenated fats or deep foods deep fried.  Eating some chicken fingers and French fries that are now cooked in trans fat free oil is still going to be very bad for you. Free radical damage causes a host of problems, from low energy to accelerating the again process, yet healthy oils that are eaten in their natural unheated form will reverse many health problems and extend your life and energy!

Oils To Use:

• Coconut oil, butter, and even organic lard for cooking
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil added to food after it is prepared – at least 1 TB per day
• Unrefined Sesame Seed Oil also added to food after it is prepared – a few TBs per week (never heat it)