On Tuesday (December 5, 2006), New York has become the first city in United States to ban artery-clogging artificial trans fats at restaurants, as voted by New York’s Health Board. Restaurants must stop using most frying oils containing artificial trans fats by July and artificial trans fats must be eliminated from all restaurants foods by July 2008. It is expected that more and more cities in United States and around the world will follow suit. Gradually, trans fats will be eliminated from virtually all edible foods.

In 1950s and 1960s, trans fat was hailed as a healthy replacement for saturated fat in butter and animal fat. It was also used because of its ability to extend shelf life for products. 30 years later, why it is now crowned as a bad stuff that could shorten life for those who eat it?

This artificial fat, also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil or vegetable shortening, is now being accused as the culprit for raising the risk of heart disease and other health problems. Why?

The reason is fairly simple. Research has found that trans fats increases levels of LDL or bad cholesterol and at the same time decreases levels of HDL or good cholesterol. It clogs the arteries of the heart, making them more rigid. It can also increase insulin resistance, thus increasing your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The top nutritionists at Harvard University have in fact estimated that by just replacing partially hydrogenated fat in the diet with natural un-hydrogenated vegetable oils would prevent about 30,000 premature coronary deaths per year in the United States.

Based on the evidences and findings from numerous researches, United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had passed a law in 2003 requiring manufacturers of food and some dietary supplements to list trans fat on a separate line, and became effective from January this year.

While consumers starting to pressure food manufacturers and health authorities for stricter guidelines, food manufacturers are striving their every effort to find replacements for trans fats. Saturated fats such as palm and coconut oils that were once said to be artery-clogging fats are the most likely alternatives. Though they are also not exactly healthy, they are far less harmful to the body than trans fat. This is because they raise both good and bad cholesterol levels, as compared with trans fat which raises bad cholesterol and reduce good cholesterol levels.

As we know, the best way to stay healthy is to eat fresh and unprocessed foods. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, many of us are still heavily dependent on convenience foods that are displayed and sold in stores. It is good to hear that trans fats that are bad for our health will slowly be eliminated from the system.

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