Just how bad for you are addictive “trans fats”?

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If you read the back of many processed food labels, you’ll often see an ingredient with a prefix of “partially hydrogenated”.  Since there has been so much negative publicity about this ingredient, otherwise known to be part of a group called “trans fats”, people now recognize this ingredient as something to avoid.

But are trans fats that bad, or is this just some myth made up by the modern day western medicine community?  Well, trans fats really are bad for you. Let’s talk about why that is true.

Trans fats are “man made” – for the most part

Trans fats are largely a man made creation (there are trace trans fats in some meats), and they have a much different structure than the fats from which they were created.  They were originally created by the processed food industry as a way to prolong the shelf life of foods and to enhance their flavor.

Their name says it all about how they are created.  Hydrogen is added to the liquid fat, making it a “partially hydrogenated” molecule. This extra molecule makes it more stable for a longer life as well as changing the consistency from a liquid to a solid fat.

If you’re eating out and enjoying a deep fried dish, chances are you are eating a type of hydrogenated vegetable oil. This is because this fat can be used over and over in the fryers used to deep fry foods. It is also inexpensive and lends a desirable taste to the food.

They raise your blood levels of the most damaging type of cholesterol

The reason such a big deal has been made about trans fats is because they were discovered to have a large role in elevating the most dangerous type of cholesterol.  Although hydrogenated oils entered the food market in full swing in the early 1970’s, their terrible health effects were not fully studied or understood until almost two decades later.

Just as the process of hydrogenation makes the liquid fat itself solid, trans fats make the blood thicker and “stickier”. This means the blood has a harder time passing through the arteries, veins and other passages through which is must flow in order to nourish the body.  Having blood with a lot of this damaging type of cholesterol raises your risk for heart disease, stroke and other health complications that can occur from encumbered blood flow.

Trans fats may make junk food even more addictive

Since they do tend to enhance the flavor of foods, some nutrition experts think they may be slightly addictive, adding to the difficulty in giving up certain “junk” foods.  Like a drug addict, many of us struggle with those first few days of a clean diet just as a drug addict would withdrawing from drugs.

While trans fats are entirely to blame for this withdrawal effect, they certainly don’t make it any easier due to their enhancement of texture as well as flavor.  When we eat these rich foods over and over, it creates a sort of psychological addiction that also may spill over into an actual physiological addiction eventually.  Other ingredients that are commonly found in junk foods like MSG, high levels of sodium and processed sugar also add to the addictive nature of junk food.

Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com. Product line includes an MSM & Vitamin C Ester Hydrating & Brightening Face Cream and all natural plumping Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Sulfate Free Natural Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Deep Hydration Conditioner, a very effective natural deodorant, and other body care. Visit to learn more about what chemicals & ingredients to avoid in your beauty and personal care products at AuraSensory.com.

 

 

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Danna Norek
Owner, AuraSensory.com at AuraSensory.com
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory, a line of naturally inspired and effective hair, body and skin care products free of harmful chemicals.