Home » Diet Dictionary » So what is Trans fat anyways?

So what is Trans fat anyways?

Posted by Kelly on February 25th, 2009 at 05:33pm

You hear it all the time and see “0 grams of trans fat” displayed proudly on grocery store items but what exactly does trans fat mean? Trans fat is actually another name for a type of unsaturated fat with trans-isomer fatty acids. Unlike other kids of dietary fats, trans fats are not essential to your daily nutrition and don’t promote good health. In fact, the consumption of trans fats can lead to coronary heart disease by lowering levels of good cholesterol and raising levels of bad cholesterol. Nutritionists and doctors recommend limiting the amount of trans fat intake to trace amounts. Trans fats are found naturally in milk and body fat of cattle and sheep. While that used to be the only type of trans fat, it now can be found in many processed foods, particularly snack foods, fast food, fried food and baked goods. So step away from that Krispy Kreme – for your heart’s sake!