These days, there’s a study a minute about the evils of trans
fats and how they harm our bodies. But what are they and how do
we eliminate this artery-clogging fat from our diets? Read on.
What they are: Also known as trans fatty acids, trans fats are
produced when vegetable fats or oils are chemically altered and
hardened through hydrogenation. They’re typically found in foods
that already contain some fat, but especially in margarine,
candy, cookies and deep-fried foods like chips, crackers and
french fries. Note: Small amounts of trans fats occur naturally
in certain animal-based foods. How they work: Manufacturers have
long used this form of fat when making products because it
boosts their shelf-life and add crispness to snacks like
crackers, chips and cookies. Why they’re harmful: Not only do
trans fats deplete our supply of high density lipoprotein (good
cholesterol), they boost levels of low density lipoprotein (bad
cholesterol), clogging arteries and causing our bodies to work
harder to protect agains