Individuals who want to keep their hearts safe and healthy better stay away from trans fats. But now that the Federal Drug Administration already banned the use of transfats, alternatives, just like palm oil and interesterified vegetable oil, are already available. Questions, though, popped up, whether or not they're any better.
Trans fats and non-saturated fats that are usually animal products are linked with higher death rates related to coronary heart disease, stroke or Type 2 diabetes, researchers from McMaster University report.
"For years, everyone has been advised to cut out fats. Trans fats have no health benefits and pose a significant risk for heart disease, but the case for saturated fat is less clear," Russell de Souza the lead author who is an assistant professor at the university, said.
Saturated fats are usually animal products, like cows' milk, meat and egg yolks. According to the American Heart Association, eating foods with high saturated fat content increases the level of cholesterol in your blood, which in turn places a person at risk of heart disease and stroke. The association limits the daily consumption of trans fats from 5% to 6% of calories. So, if an individual consumes 2,000 calories a day, the trans fat content should not exceed 120. That's equivalent to 13 grams of saturated fats every day.
De Suoza and team evaluated the results of 50 observational studies in an attempt to link saturated and/or trans fats with adult health conditions. The researchers discovered "that those eating more trans fats had a 34% higher rate of dying from any cause compared to those eating less, a 28% higher risk of dying from heart disease, and a 21% greater risk of having heart-related health issues," Time reports. The research, published in the British Medical Journal, also reported that while there is no specific association between a diet high in saturated fats and deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), ischemic stroke or Type 2 diabetes, still, the researchers ruled that individuals should eat less saturated or trans fats. They suggested opting for better choices.
"Replace foods high in these fats, such as high-fat or processed meats and donuts, with vegetable oils, nuts and whole grains," the authors suggested.
But there, there are also concerns with regards to the use of trans fat alternatives, particularly with hydrogenated oils in processed foods.
Vegetable oils, which are stable at high heat, are now replacing partially hydrogenated oils. However, those who are baking have no choice but to replace solid fats with trans fat-free shortenings. Palm oil or interesterified vegetable oil are the easiest substitutes available. However, the content and nutritive value of palm oil, particularly its effect on blood cholesterol and heart disease, have not yet been explored, so there's no solid proof to say it's good or bad for the health.
On the other hand, interesterified oils have been around since the 1930s. It has been used as a cocoa butter substitute for the manufacturing of affordable chocolate. With the onset on the backlash against trans fat, these chemically altered oils are becoming famous, but their health effects still have to be given further studies to check their effects on cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
