Commerically produced trans fat, or partially hydrogenated oil, is liquid oil that goes through a chemical process that adds hydrogen to its atoms making it solid at room temperature. Manufactured trans fat is bad for you because it raises LDL, or bad cholesterol, and lowers HDL, or good cholesterol. Starting in 2006, the government required any food containing trans fat have this ingredient listed on the nutrition panel. Recent evidence, however, has found that naturally occurring trans fat can actually be good for you.
Natural Trans Fat
Natural trans fats are created in the stomachs of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats and are stored in their fat cells. Products such as milk, yogurt, cheese and meat from these animals, therefore, contain trans fat in the form of conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. ABC news in 2007 indicated that natural trans fat may have either a neutral effect or a moderating effect on LDL and no effect on HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. In addition to not being harmful, naturally occurring trans fats may actually be good for you.
Weight Loss Evidence
According to nutritionist Mike Geary, "Natural trans fats in your diet have been thought to have some potential benefit to aid in both muscle building and fat loss efforts." A research group from the University of Wisconsin led by Leah D. Whigham reviewed 18 published studies in which randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials were conducted on people eating a diet rich in CLA. The studies concluded that a dose of 3.2 g/d of CLA led to modest weight loss.
Bolsters Liver Functioning
Researchers led by Roger S. McLeod from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Dalhousie University conducted a literature review concluding that CLA reduces fatty acids in the liver. Decreasing fatty acids in the liver is beneficial because a healthy liver increases the body's ability to burn fat. A poorly functioning liver can lead to headaches, fatigue, bad breath, depression, hypoglycemia, irritable bowel syndrome, allergies and gallstones.
Bolsters Immune Functioning
Oshea, Riera and Inge found "compelling" evidence that CLA may have antiallergic benefits with regard to pollen, soybean, wheat and peanuts. CLA increased the number of people who "mounted a protective response" when exposed to these substances. To eat a diet rich in CLA, choose animals that eaten a grass-fed diet as opposed to commercial feeding methods involving soy and grain
References
- ABC News; A Good Trans Fat; Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob; 2007
- Weight Loss Diet Free: Learn How Fatty Liver Symptoms Can Cause Weight Gain
- Truth About Abs; Good Trans Fat Versus Bad Trans Fat; Mike Geary
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Efficacy of Conjugated Linoleic Acid for Reducing Fat Mass: a Meta-Analysis in Humans; Leah D. Whigham et al.;
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Conjugated Linoleic Acids, Atherosclerosis, and Hepatic Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Metabolism; Roger S. McLeod et al.; 2003
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition;" Immunomodularity Properties of Conjugated Linoleic Acid"; Marianne OShea et al; 2004
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