Tuesday, January 24, 2023

WHO Tackles Trans Fat: Heart-Healthy Common Sense Now Watch for Blowback

Loads of trans fat we love but need caution

More of these will help counter trans fat
(Helps lower bad LDL)

Trans fat a bigtime killer from heart disease that threatens some 5 billion people says WHO in report here from CTV with this story headline:

“A toxic chemical that kills: WHO says health of 5 billion people at risk from trans fat”

Published Monday, the 2022 WHO report on global trans fat elimination says: “Governments need to do more to ban industrially-produced fats, which clog arteries and are commonly found in cooking oils, spreads, packaged foods and baked goods.” 

Developed by chemists at the beginning of the 20th century, products containing industrial-made trans fats, like margarine, quickly rose to prominence as a cheaper alternatives to animal fats like butter. 

Until the 1990s, they were also widely perceived as being healthier, and were frequently used in large-scale food production. But that has since been debunked.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a news release:Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems. By contrast, eliminating trans fat is cost effective and has enormous benefits for health. Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It’s time to get rid of it once and for all.

According to the WHO, global trans fat intake leads to up to 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year. Research shows that artificial trans fat can raise bad cholesterol levels and build up in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and heart attack.

FYI: Natural trans fat occurs in some meat and dairy products and is not considered harmful.

RELATED STORIES:

§  UN health agency aims to wipe out trans fats worldwide

§  Eating 2 servings a week of 1 fatty fruit can reduce heart attack risk

§  Even a small portion of fried foods can increase risk of heart disease

§  Gene-edited food quietly arrives in restaurant cooking oil

My 2 Cents: Here is quick guide that you can print and keep handy that addresses good eating habits to possibly head off heart disease which is the #1 killer in the world:

PREVENTING HEART DISEASE: Preventing heart disease means: (1) keeping your weight, (2) blood pressure and cholesterol under control, (3) getting plenty of good-quality sleep, (4) regular exercise, (5) managing stress, (6) limiting alcohol, (7) avoiding tobacco, and (8) eating a healthy diet lower in sugar, processed foods, and saturated fats.

The American Heart Association says your body needs fat to boost energy, protect organs, produce hormones and help with nutrient absorption. Fats like monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the heart-healthy choices found in (1) olive oil, (2) canola oil, (3) peanut oil, (4) safflower oil, and (5) sesame oil are good sources of monounsaturated fats, along with avocados, peanut butter, and many nuts and seeds.

Saturated & trans fats raise LDL: (AKA: Bad Cholesterol).

Saturated fats, such as butter, are typically solid at room temperature and are found in full-fat dairy products, eggs, coconut and palm oils, and fatty cuts of beef, pork and skin-on poultry.

Artificially made trans fats, also called partially hydrogenated oils, raise bad LDL cholesterol and lower good HDL cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

Those can often be found in “fried foods like doughnuts, baked goods including cakes, pie crusts, biscuits, frozen pizza, cookies, crackers, stick margarines, and other butter-like spreads.”

Enjoy the read and research and work to stay healthy. 

Thanks for stopping by.


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