Trans fats have been in the news lately as our FDA is taking steps to get it out of our food. So what are trans fats and why should you care?

Trans fats are also known as partially hydrogenated oil.

You can find lots of articles that discuss various aspects of trans fats and I will repeat some of those facts that I find relevant. What is hard to find is exactly what is a trans fat and why it is dangerous.

Trans Fats Are Locked In An Un-Healthy Configuration

Fats are basically long carbon chains with some oxygen attached in various places. The carbon atoms are mostly attached to other carbons with single bonds. Carbon atoms connected with single bonds are free to rotate around the bond sort of like a U-joint. A double bond between carbon atoms locks that portion of the chain, stopping the ability to rotate. In nature, if there is a double bond between two of the carbons, they fold in a particular way that is called a cis formation. Nature almost exclusively uses the cis formation.

Trans fats add double bonds to the carbon chain as well but form a kink in the chain that chemists call a trans formation. This trans formation is rare in nature. Another way to say this is that trans fats are locked in an abnormally twisted configuration.

Foods Last Longer Because Bacteria and Fungi Have Trouble Breaking Them Down

Because we don’t find the trans type of kink in nature as a rule, bacteria, fungus as well as people don’t have a good way to break them down. This is exciting to a biochemist because these fats don’t go bad and have an amazing shelf life. When a food spoils it is because it is being broken down by micro organisms. Imagine you are a food manufacturer making something like snack cakes. You would certainly choose trans fats. People would most likely stock their nuclear fallout shelter with lots of trans fats items. Remember these have a great shelf life because bacteria and fungus don’t know how to digest them which is remarkable when you think about it.

Since we can’t properly digest trans fats, what happens to them after you enjoy that trans fat loaded candy bar or packaged cake that your taste buds thought was perfectly fine?

These Poorly Functioning Fats Get Incorporated Into the Cell Membranes

These fats are incorporated into cell membranes just like a good fat would be. Cell membrane health is critical because this is how your cell controls what is on the inside and what is kept on the outside. Think of the cell membrane as part of your security system. Trans fats interrupt the body’s capability of regulating traffic across the membrane. And they keep doing it for about 3 months. So that packaged donut you ate yesterday causes problems for 90 more days.

If you chart heart disease from a public health point of view and overlay that with use of trans fats in our diet, you would see some surprising correlations. It has been pointed out that at the turn of the 20^th Century, a doctor who wanted to observe a heart disease patient would probably have to travel because they wouldn’t show up in their practice very often.

Today heart disease has taken a commanding position as the number one killer. Do trans fats play a role? Thousands of researchers think so and now with overwhelming evidence, the FDA is getting on board about 50 years too late.A diet with trans fats increases risk of stroke and diabetes.

Where Do You Find Trans Fats Today?

Trans fats are still around. Look for them in these foods.

Many restaurants use these cheaper oils in deep fryers so they don’t have to change the oil as often.

Commercial baked goods like cakes, cookies and pies.

Shortening is a notorious trans fat.

Microwave popcorn

Frozen pizza

Refrigerated dough for biscuits and rolls

Fried foods like French fries, dougnnuts and fired chicken

Non dairy creamers

Stick margarine

What Should I Eat Instead?

Look for olive oil, peanut oil and/or canola oil to avoid trans fats. Nuts and fish oils are good options.

Cutting back on trans fats won’t make a big difference right away. This is the type of thing that creeps up on you where things go wrong and you just blame your genetics or something when it was, at least in part, due to some questionable diet sources all along.

2014