Eliminating Hydrogenated Oils from Your Diet

By the DoItYourself.com Staff

It seems that every year a new diet seems to emerge into the public eye as a quick fix to control unwanted weight. Our country has access to an enormous amount of diet plans but is now faced with an ever growing epidemic of obese people. A closer look at today’s eating habits needs to be a priority in curbing the dangerous trend of obesity in our society.

I think one of the key factors in weight control is in food preparation. Eliminating foods prepared by hydrogenation seems to be an important step in eliminating unwanted calories, as well as, an added health benefit.

First of all, we need to examine exactly what it means when certain foods list on the ingredient label, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils.

Hydrogenation is the process by which hydrogen is added to vegetable oil, prolonging the shelf life. Trans fatty acids result in a solid state at room temperature, where in contrast, unsaturated fatty acids become a liquid at room temperature.

This hydrogenation process also removes the essential fatty acids leaving the trans fat which can raise the LDL or bad cholesterol, the same way in which saturated fats can.

For about a decade or more now, with the increased consumption of hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils in processed foods, there has been an apparent association between an increased risk of coronary heart disease. This correlation has now been brought to the attention of the Food and Drug Administration who now require mandatory listing of the Trans fatty acid content printed on the food product’s label. There are some products already labeling their products as 0 Trans fat directly on their packaging. Be aware, however, you may want to check the ingredient listing also, as some products have shown to still contain partially hydrogenated oils. If there is not a significant amount of trans fat in a product, they can still label it as 0 trans fat.

A listing of food products that may contain trans fat are as follows:

1.) Snack foods, such as potato chips, corn chips and cheetos.

2.) Box mixes, for example, cake mixes, cornbread and pancake mixes, frostings, crackers, and cereals. It’s best to check the ingredients on cereal boxes as there are some that do not contain trans fat. Regular oatmeal does not contain trans fat and has also been linked to lowering cholesterol, which is an added plus for your health.

3.) Frozen snack foods, which have included most pizzas, burritos, and some frozen bakery items, for example, pastries, waffles, pancakes, fish sticks, and frozen entrees and meals. If you’re not sure, remember to read the ingredients listed on the label.

Foods that do not contain trans fat are usually your natural foods such as, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat, fish, poultry, nuts, and seeds. Canned vegetables, fruits, soups, and baking items, for example, flour, sugar, and spices also do not contain trans fat.

What’s ironic is that for years people have been told to stay away from butter because of the added calories substituting margarine instead. Sacrificing butter for a trans fatty item such as margarine may have defeated the health benefit of lowering your caloric intake. It seems to be that the most natural foods, in lieu of; processed foods are healthier and may turn out to control weight more successfully as well. Even though sometimes a quick meal is more convenient, make sure it’s also the healthiest choice too.

Changing your eating habits to incorporate non-trans fatty foods seems to be a positive step for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

© DoItYourself.com 2006