The Truth About Trans Fats

By Susan Patterson

When losing weight it's important to understand how to read a food label. Many of us believe that the fat in our diets is the enemy and we work hard to cut out as much of it as possible. But fat is not always the bad guy. There are different types of fats, and some even have health benefits. Fat is as essential to our bodies as other substances, and many vitamins cannot be absorbed without it. Knowing how to spot and correct the bad fats in our diet is important to weight loss success.

Generally speaking, there are four types of fats: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated and trans fats. Unsaturated fats are considered good fats. These substances help raise HDL cholesterol and lower the amount of lipoproteins in our blood. Saturated fats are worse and should be kept to a minimum. However, trans fat is an unsaturated fatty acid that is thought to be responsible for the increase in heart disease worldwide.

Trans fats came about as a result of partial hydrogenation, a process to make fats more solid, extending their shelf life and making them better to use for baking. Crisco, first sold in 1911, was the first commercial product to use this method. Today almost everything contains partially hydrogenated oils, even bread, and a worldwide effort to keep trans fats out of people's diets has exploded onto the scene. New labeling and standards have been put into place to allow people to monitor their intake.

If trying to lose weight, one of the best things you can do is read your food labels and make sure you buy products that do not contain any partially hydrogenated oils. In the United States, any food with less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving can say it has Zero Trans Fat. So many things you think are trans fat free really just don't have enough to require labeling. No matter how much you exercise, no quick weight loss will occur until you learn to recognize the dangerous foods you eat and cut them out of your diet altogether. Experts recommend not consuming anything with hydrogenated oils, no matter if the word partially is included or not.

People who tend to eat on the run may find it very difficult to cut out hydrogenated oils as they are in almost every processed food available today. It's best to stick with fresh fruit and vegetables, being sure to avoid fast food altogether. Many people carry small containers of nuts in their cars to help them avoid stopping in convenience stores when hungry. If hunger is a sticking point, try adding a natural appetite suppressant like hoodia to your program. This will help curb inconvenient cravings that may occur due to habit or stress.