What is trans fat, why is it bad for me and how do I avoid it?

Trans fat is a man-made fat that is more detrimental to your health than any other type of fat. Trans fat is a fat with an abnormal chemical structure that is produced during the process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is the way that we take liquid fats and make them solid at room temperature, for example making margarine from liquid corn oil. These trans fats have a negative effect on your health, increasing your risk for heart disease. As of January 1, 2006 all manufacturers were required to start indicating the amount of trans fat in their products on the Nutrition Facts Panel. The trans fat will be listed underneath Total Fat along with saturated fat and unsaturated fatty acids. The other way to find trans fat in the products you eat is to look at the ingredient list. If you see the word hydrogenated on the label then that product contains trans fat, unless the words “no trans fat” or “trans fat free” also appear somewhere else on the label. Foods that are likely to contain trans fats are margarine, peanut butter, and packaged baked goods such as cookies, muffins and breads. For more information on trans fats, read “Questions and Answers About Trans Fat Labeling” from the FDA.

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