What Are Hydrogenated Fats?
There are several types of fats in foods. Some are healthy, while others are very harmful. What are hydrogenated fats? These are vegetable fats that can behave like animal fats in the body. They are also called trans fats because they change their composition, appearance and texture. Find out more about them in this article!
What are hydrogenated fats?
Hydrogenated fats or trans fats are fats that result from a chemical process. Many experts are against their use in food. In fact, no expert recommends them to be consumed, even in small percentages.
You should avoid them as often as possible. These fats are obtained from the hydrogenation of vegetable oils (which turn them from unsaturated to saturated). Thus, they are much more harmful than saturated fats of animal origin.
How are hydrogenated fats obtained?
Trans or hydrogenated fats result from a chemical process that benefits producers in many ways, especially because they are cheaper than other types of fats. However, trans fats are dangerous to health.
Many food industries introduce hydrogen into ingredients that contain certain fats in liquid form, such as oils. This occurs when the fats are at very high temperatures so that they become solid.
Trans fats allow food to be valid longer and have a more appetizing appearance, being easier to cook even because it acquires resistance to very high temperatures.
Health effects of hydrogenated fats
Trans fats are the most harmful fats for the body. For this reason, we recommend that you avoid them completely or at least reduce their consumption. They also increase the risk of certain diseases, such as:
- Cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. These fats can increase the level of bad cholesterol and triglycerides. It also lowers good cholesterol levels.
- Cancer. They can cause the body to produce defective hormones and cell membranes.
- Brain diseases. These fats inhibit the action of essential fatty acids, slowing the growth and maturation of the brain.
Foods that contain trans fats
- Cookies
- Ready-made dishes
- Margarine
- Fast food
- Fried food
How to avoid hydrogenated foods
To eliminate trans fats from your diet, the first thing you need to do is avoid processed products. Therefore, we recommend that you consume fresh products that do not contain this type of fat or other added additives.
In addition, if you buy most of the food in the supermarket, read the labels carefully before buying a processed product. It is important to make sure that the products in your shopping cart do not contain unhealthy ingredients. We are not just talking about hydrogenated fats, but also about sugar or starch. In addition, if the product label says that it contains vegetable fats, you need to see what type of fat they are. Avoid trans fatty acids and hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats.
If you buy a lot of processed products or ready-made foods, this can seem difficult. However, it is important to change your purchasing and consumption habits in order to have a healthy lifestyle.
