Banning Trans Fats-Out Of The Frying Pan-Into The Fire
So cities across the US have either already banned trans fats from their restaurants or are considering doing so. All in the name of protecting the public health.
Also, many food companies are reformulating their foods to eliminate trans fats. But then they have to. Otherwise, they'll be portrayed as the bad guys trying to make a buck off the poor, unsuspecting public by poisoning us with their unhealthy foods.
The campaign to raise public awareness of the dangers of trans fats has led many consumers to believe that a ban will be healthy for them. So there are many people who are all for it.
**But The Hype Has Just Begun**
In fact, a recent study actually tried to link trans fats to infertility.
Even nutritionist Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, a professor at New York University, expressed skepticism about that conclusion in an article recently published on WebMD.
So are city governments justified in banning trans fats from our foods? Or are these local governments making a mistake because of all the anti-trans fat hype?
Regardless of how you feel about the government legislating what we eat, here's the problem.
Trans fats are being replaced in many foods by a new type of fat called interesterified fats.
But according to the results of a study published in the journal, Nutrition and Metabolism, interesterified fats may be even more dangerous for us than trans fats.
You see, interesterified fats also lower our levels of HDL (the good cholesterol). Just like trans fats. So there's still a heart health issue.
**But Now There's A New Health Risk**
Interesterified fats were found to significantly increase blood sugar and depress insulin. Which may increase your risk for diabetes. Or cause potential problems for you if you already have diabetes.
If you remember, trans fats replaced saturated fats years ago because saturated fats were supposed to be unhealthy. At the time, trans fats were believed to be healthier.
So much for that conclusion. But it gets worse.
These new interesterified fats were found to increase blood sugar by 20% more than good old saturated fats.
That was in a mere four weeks. Imagine what would happen over a longer period of time.
**Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire**
It seems like every time the food police insist on changing the type of fats found in our food, they introduce new and potentially more dangerous health risks for us.
If you're concerned about this new diabetes risk, you can check the ingredient list of your foods if it's available. Interesterified fats are labelled as "fully hydrogenated oil."
But maybe it's time to consider another course. Maybe we shouldn't be reformulating our foods after every study. And we certainly shouldn't be banning foods unless we're sure the alternatives are safer.
Most importantly, maybe it's time for the food police to get off their high horses and quit telling the rest of us how to eat. They don't exactly have a good track record.
**Should We Stop The Trans Fat Bans Before It's Too Late?**
I'm not arguing that trans fats are healthy. But I think it's a foolish mistake to reformulate all of our foods until more studies have been done. We need reasonable proof that we've found a safer alternative.
If you're concerned about the health risks from these new fats, you may want to get in touch with your local legislators. And stop the ban on trans fats until we know for sure that we aren't jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Copyright (c) 2007 Debbie Fontana
Related Tags: diabetes, c, trans fat, trans fats, saturated fats, trans fat ban, interesterified fats, food police
Debbie Fontana is a full-time author and business owner who specializes in writing about health, weight loss, and nutrition. She invites you to visit her at ILoveToCheatDiet.com/blog and post your comments about the ban on trans fats. Do you agree? Disagree? Do you think the food police are helping or hurting us? Please post your comments at Stop The Trans Fat Ban
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Dental Insurance For Individual Can Be Of Help At Time
Dental problem may cost one a lot of money and pain. But, practicing a reasonable care could decreas - Personal Trainer For Perfect Health
There is a general misconception that need for a fitness trainer comes for novice or from those who - Varicose Veins - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The majority of people after thirty notice the changes that appear with the maturing. In this case t - Scenar Therapy - Self-treatment Or Healing Partnership
Do you want to learn about a device which will help you to ease your pain? If you get this kind of a - Scenar - 5 "no, Nos" Of Scenar
Are you fed up with the pain in your body? Various parts of our body seem to ache due to different r - Scenar Device - 5 Tips On Travelling With Your Scenar (skenar) Device
You might be aware of scenar which has become quite popular these days. This is actually the acronym - Scenar Therapy - How To Treat Your Pet With Scenar
There are many alternative methods of treatment that are being invented these days. Lots of people a - Your Options For The Treatment For Appendicitis
Appendicitis is considered to be a surgical illness. Due to its severe character, the treatment for - How To Choose The Right Copd Medication
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD does not have any cure. But with the help of medicines - Septic Arthritis: Infectious Agents Penetrate Joints' Spaces
Another major type of arthritis is septic arthritis, which is also known in various terms like: pyog
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Drugs - the Last Alternative for Adhd in Kids
Anyone over the age of thirty who has grown up with ADHD understands that there was not much help av - Foods To Eat To Gain Weight
Malnutrition has the same degree of problem as obesity. There are people who are too skinny, they fi - Understanding Postpartum Clothing
The same way most pregnant women dream of the day when they will begin showing for wearing maternity - Kegel Exercising for Bladder Control and Enhanced Sexual Pleasure
Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, thereby improving the urethra and/or rec - The Use Of Weight Loss Herbs
Nothing has garnered more attention in today's world than the success or failures of weight loss pro - A Simple Acid Relux Cure
Many people today are afflicted with heartburn. If they eat food that is too spicy, they get heartbu - Five Effective Household Back Pain Treatments
Back pain treatment comes in lots of forms, from exercise to pain mediction. Standard and most wides - Herbal Remedies - Can They Cure What Ails You?
You've probably heard about herbal remedies before and how they can treat a variety of health proble - Natural Relief for Tinnitus - What are your Choices
Natural Relief For Tinnitus - Alternative Options Did you know that there are an estimated 50 t - Birthing Around the World
Since ancestral times, different cultures showed off different customs and beliefs around the miracl