Trans fats are man-made fats that are often found in processed foods. Becoming aware of trans fats is extremely important, as excess intake of them can lead to serious health problems.
What are Trans Fats?
Also called hydrogenated fats, trans fats are man-made or processed fats, made from a liquid oil. The processing results in a stiffer fat. They are often put into food to help extend shelf life.
What Effect do they have?
Because trans fats are stiffer and harder than other fats, they do a better job of clogging the arteries. This can severely damage your cardiovascular system.
How bad are they?
Trans fats can be worse than saturated fats. While saturated fats increase your total cholesterol, trans fats do the same while also taking away good cholesterol (HDL), which helps protect against heart disease.
Where Are Trans Fats found?
Trans fats are found in many different foods. The most common include: fried and processed foods, cookies, muffins and cakes.
Heart Disease
The main concern with trans fat is its connection to heart disease. Because trans fat helps block arteries, excess intake can lead to serious problems such as high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
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