What are trans fats and why are they bad for you?

　　When it comes to our diet and food intake, fat is usually considered a bad person, but it is important to remember that fat is an essential part of our diet and vital to the normal functioning of our body. Fat is simply an organic compound composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms. They are also called lipids. The three main types of fat are saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and these three types of dregs, which are saturated (trans) fats.

　　What is trans fat?

　　Trans fats are artificially produced fats, produced from polyunsaturated fats through a process called hydrogenation (addition of hydrogen atoms). This converts liquid polyunsaturated fats into solid saturated fats.

　　What is the use of trans fat?

　　The food industry hopes to find a way to convert liquid oil into solid fat, which is easier to use in food production to produce trans fat or processed fat. They are cheaper to produce than other fats and have a longer lifespan. Trans fats can also give foods an ideal taste and texture. Many fast food restaurants use trans fats to fry food because they can be reused in commercial fryer and can withstand repeated heating without breaking down.

　　Which foods contain trans fats?

　　Trans fats are usually found in the following foods:

　　French fries, French fries and the deepest fried foods-if you have any questions, you can always ask in the restaurant and take away the oil they use to fry food at any time.

　　Pies and Pie Crusts-Baked products are notorious for containing trans fats. Most products contain 2-4 grams of trans fats per serving. Check food labels and avoid using anything that contains trans fats, hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated oils.

　　Margarine and spreads-Not long ago, margarines and spreads were considered healthy substitutes for butter, but in order to maintain the shape and consistency of butter, many butters are high in trans fats

　　Cake and muffin mixture-even if the ingredient list shows a “shortened” ingredient, even if you find a “trans fat free” mixture, it will contain trace amounts of trans fat.

　　Burgers and hot dogs-The burgers and hot dogs of most fast food chains contain high levels of trans fats. The same goes for frozen burgers and sausages bought in supermarkets.

　　biscuits-anything that can be kept on a shelf or in a small bag for a long time needs to be stable, that is to say, use hydrogenated oil. Some biscuits contain up to 2 grams of trans fat per serving.

　　Frozen ready-to-eat foods-adding trans fats to these foods can make them last longer and taste better.

　　What are trans fats doing?

　　Obviously, trans fats are more unhealthy than saturated fats, and some manufacturers are now actively avoiding the use of trans fats in their products. Some supermarkets have removed trans fats from all their ready-to-eat foods, and some large chain restaurants have also tried to severely reduce the trans fat content in their heirs’ products.

　　How does trans fat affect us?

　　Trans fats increase the level of bad cholesterol (LDL or low-density lipoprotein) in the body. This will build up on the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow. Trans fats can also lower good cholesterol levels (HDL or high-density lipoprotein). Eating trans fats increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and also increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. Trans fats may also increase inflammation, which is the body’s response to injury. Inflammation plays a key role in the formation of fat blockages in the blood vessels of the heart. Trans fats have been shown to destroy cells in the lining of blood vessels and cause inflammation. So, check the food labels for trans fats in the future, and then do your heart a favor and avoid eating them!