Oils and Trans Fat
Most of us are familiar with the idea that trans fat is bad for our health. It is known to lead to a rise in “bad” cholesterol while also stifling the amount of beneficial cholesterol in the body. This exchange increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. For this reason, the FDA is calling for the phasing out of trans fat and many companies are proud of their “fat free” labels.
What does this have to do with oils? Well, while olive oil and avocado oil are commonly grouped in with popular health foods, hydrogenated oils are a big part of why fast food isn’t. While many vegetable oils are unsaturated at first, they often undergo a process that causes hydrogen gas to bond with their unsaturated bonds. This has the benefit of increasing the melting temperature of the oil (so it can be used for things like candles and soaps) and allowing it to become much more stable. The issue with this process is that when partially hydrogenated oils are used in food, the new state of these oils wreaks on the cardiovascular system.
Even though this much more stable form of oil is useful in preserving the shelf life of many foods, it is not as beneficial in preserving the health of you and I. Many countries have taken steps to ensure that partially hydrogenated oils are eliminated from human food altogether. Here in the US, we haven’t adopted a total ban but we’ve taken steps to eliminate artificially added partially hydrogenated oils. Even so, foods like frozen pizza, icing, crackers, coffee creamer and even microwavable popcorn may still carry a significant amount of partially hydrogenated oils. Most fried and heavily processed foods will also be common culprits.
Today, we see partially hydrogenated oils as nearly synonymous with trans fat. These unhealthy oils are one more big reason to focus our diet on unprocessed foods. If you need to use an oil in your cooking, try for a healthier unsaturated oil like olive or avocado oil. Better yet, go for unprocessed foods and if you need some healthy fats in your diet, try a fresh change like avocados, nuts or edamame!