>> Sunday, April 25, 2010
A Diet For High Cholesterol Cannot Include Trans-Fat
One of the very first things you learn when you get serious about improving your diet is to "avoid trans-fat". Not only do dietitians and nutritionists say this repeatedly but the evils of trans-fats have also become advertising slogans for many products in the food industry.While this is all good, do you know what trans-fats are or why they should be avoided?.
If so, great! If not then read on and get a short introduction to not only what trans-fats are but also why they are not good for us.Trans-fats start out as perfectly normal and natural vegetable fats. These natural fats become "trans-fats" when they are chemically modified through a process known as "hydrogenation". This process converts normal, healthy fats like soybean or corn oil into solids which are used in many foods that have some type of fat.
Learn More About High Cholesterol Foods That You Should Avoid
The benefit to the food industry is that once fat has been hydrogenated is has a much longer shelf life so the products using it will remain fresher in their packaging for a much longer time.So far so good but the problem comes after we eat the products that has trans-fats in them. Our bodies don't know what to make of this artificial chemical compound and mistake trans-fats for saturated fats like butter or animal fats. Of course saturated fats are well known to clog arteries and lead to cardiovascular disease.
Some will say that since trans-fats have been used extensively for decades that the risk associated with their use is exaggerated. But over the last 10 years compelling evidence has emerged supporting a reduced intake of all type of fat, and trans-fats particularly.It is clear that a diet for high cholesterol, for example, cannot include trans-fats.The goal is for fat of all types to not exceed 30% of total calories eaten.
Symptoms of High Cholesterol Levels
When at the store reading content labels don't be swayed buy notices on the packaging proclaiming "reduced fat" or "low fat" or anything similar. Watch for terms like "hydrogenated oil", or "partially hydrogenated". If you see this, there will be lots of trans-fats inside. It is preferable to choose a food higher in polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats than ones with hydrogenated fats.The bottom line is that, just like saturated fat, trans-fat will increase cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease.
If you are on a diet for high cholesterol, or if you simply want to take more responsibility for your health you really should include Mila Chia seed in your good health tool box. Mila has the highest concentration of botanically derived omega-3 fatty acids which is crucial to lowering the bad ldl cholesterol levels. Additionally, Mila provides other vital nutrients such as Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, and Fiber. Mila is a raw whole food without taste or smell and can be successfully added to almost any recipe.
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