Stay away from Trans fats

should be less than 1% of total caloric intake. 1 g = 9 cal

Trans fats are made when manufacturers add a hydrogen to vegetable oil, a process known as hydrogenation. This process increases the shelf life and flavor stability of foods containing this product. Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortening, frozen foods, packaged foods, fast food, cookies, snacks foods or foods fried in partially hydrogenated oils(better known as processed foods).  The bad news is that scientific evidence has shown that trans fat increases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or better known as “BAD” cholesterol.  Consuming trans fats increases the risk of coronary heart disease(CHD). According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute of the National Institute of Health (NIH), more than 12.5 million Americans have CHD, and more than 500,000 die each year from CHD, a leading cause of death in the United States.  Watch your trans fat consumption (look at the nutritional facts) and make steps to eat less processed foods.