Health Tips

Everyone knows that we should cut hydrogenated or transfats from our diet, so why are most of us still eating them?

Transfats, or fats that are ‘improved’ by chemically altering their structure to make them solid at room temperature, have been a favorite of the food industry for years. They are easier to use and simpler to store and so give products a longer shelf life, thus requiring less refrigeration.

This ease of use has produced food that is much cheaper and more ‘user-friendly’ such as cookies, crackers, shortening and, of course, margarine. In fact, hydrogenated fats are in most of the popular foods that you find on the shelves of your local store.

Unfortunately, it now seems that transfats do us no good at all and may well be linked to coronary heart disease by clogging our arteries. OK, so why are we still eating them?

At present there is no similar product that food manufacturers can use and it will take time for the industry to change production methods to remove transfats. That said, you can help yourself by checking labels and by not buying foods that contain them.

And there is a good side, too. Since nature does not use transfats, now is a perfect opportunity to change to a healthier life style by eating more fresh fruit and vegetables and less processed food.

So use this opportunity to cut transfats from your diet and make a positive change to healthy eating that will benefit you and your family in the future.