I'm a bit concerned about some of the nutritional labels I've been reading on products, especially with regards to the "trans fat" component. I usually buy natural peanut butter, but out of curiosity I looked at other brands, and noticed that while most non-natural brands (both their regular and "light" versions) contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils, the nutritional information still lists trans fat as "0." Is that possible? I've noticed it in other products too.

Generally, I judge a product by the ingredients before the "nutritional information," and would stay away from anything with hydrogenated fats, but I thought I'd ask about this anyway because now I'm really confused about trans fats. Thanks to anyone who feels like offering an answer!

hey simba - great question!!! many products like margarine don't contain partially hydrogenated oils anymore, but there are still many other products containing it. You are in fact correct, checking the ingredient list is a better way to look for trans fat (if it is there). I am curious enough to search on the FDA website and look up the answer for you - here's what i found.


http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/qatrans2.html#s3q3

Interesting uh?

Thanks! That's really helpful.

I've got two more questions now...

First, are trans fats created only by "partially" hydrogenated oils, or by fully hydrogenated ones as well? I always figured both weren't great for us, but presumed (for no particular reason) that "partially" was worse. In the article on trans fats provided in this website, only partially hydrogenated oils are mentioned.

Also, I know that partially or fully hydrogenated oils mean that a saturated fat has been artificially made by adding hydrogen and thus creating as many hydrogen bonds as possible in the molecule (so that it is "saturated" with bonds), but what I'm not sure about is whether or not this makes them worse than a "regular" saturated fat. That is, are hydrogenated fats simply equally unhealthy as the naturally occurring saturated fats in animal products (ex. lard), or are they in fact even worse?

Thanks again...

hahaha i see where you are coming from i don't think there is something called "fully hydrogenated" oil. once the oil is hydrogenated, it's hydrogenated. so when the label says "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oil, it means it has been hydrogenated (i.e. no degree of hydrogenation). it's like when a woman is pregnant, she is pregnant. there's nothing called "a little pregnant" or "fully pregnant" despite the size of her tummy my example may be stupid but i hope u know what a i mean

if i remember my Biochem correctly, trans fat is made from hydrogenating unsaturated fat, not saturated fat.

in my opinion, BOTH saturated fat and trans fat are bad. it's easier to avoid trans fat than to avoid saturated fats. as you know trans fats are found in manufactured or packaged products; however saturated fats are found in all animal foods. so on a typical day, we generally eat a lot more saturated fats than trans fats.

by the way simba, i hope you are not thinking of eating lard!!!! heeheee

no annie your analogy is not stupid at all. the science of trans fat is getting more and more confusing ..... and yes you are correct - the terms "hydrogenated oil" and "partially hydrogenated oil" are used interchangeably on the labels. however, there is something called "fully hydrogenated" oil. Fully hydrogenated oil does not contain trans fat - and that may also be the reason why the Nutrition Facts label is able to claim trans fat free. Fully hydrogenated oil contains more saturated fat (primarily stearic acid). Stearic acid is immediately converted into oleic acid (a type of monounsaturated fatty acids) in our body and that's why stearic acid does not raise LDL cholesterol (the bad cholseterol).

i agree - we should look at BOTH saturated fat and trans fat. personally i always add up the total of both saturated and trans fat and choose the one with less TOTAL amount when comparing products.

excellent questions simba!!!

Hi,

Partially hydrogenated means that the process of hydrogenation is stopped part way through, leaving a mixture of toxic substances. Some of the molecules are hydrogenated and some were not and some are mid-way.

http://waltonfeed.com/omega/hydro.html

Hydrogenation affects polyunsaturated fats, and is used to make them more stable and hence give products containing them a longer shelf life.

My own literature search has lead me to the conclusion that saturated fats have been given a bad name because of people linking them to trans fats.

Saturated fats are a natural product that is both made by the body from carbohydrate and can be used for energy or other functions. They are not harmful unless eaten in excess or in conjunction with refined carbohydrate.

Trans fats and partially hydrogenated oils, on the other hand, are of no use to the body and can lead to cellular damage.

The following study compares trans with saturated fats

http://www.recoverymedicine.com/hydrogenated_oils.htm

Cheers,

Hi Simba

I am not sure if you know this, but as from 1 January 2006, ALL US foods must list the amount of "trans-fatty" acids they contain.

That's why you noticed the peanut butter had zero, if it was a natural one.

This listing of trans-fatty acids has been a push by many health advisors and other groups to the FDA, which is now a reality.

Have a look at this story from the Harvard School of Public Health (Trans-fatty acids)

Trans-fatty acids are to be avoided as much as you can avoid them. There was a great deal of concern recently at a medical health conference (I cant recall the exact details, but it was attended by medical health dignitaries from around the world and it was in Europe somewhere about 2 years or so ago).

At this conference, it was shown that trans-fatty acids have cancer implications, especially at high temperatures. This conference was called because so many foods have trans-fatty acids, as they are a cheap and quick way of bulking foods without natural means.

So many foods in the USA contained trans-fatty acids before 1/1/06... now that manufacturers have to list the amount of trans-fatty acids, they are either removing these fats or lowering the amount they have in the foods....

Can you imagine that trans-fatty acids were put into cookies, biscuits, crackers, breakfast foods, without the knowledge of the public!!

Anyway, check it out on the net, you'll find more interesting info about the health dangers of trans-fatty acids

Vital Health Zone

Hi,

Transfatty acids are also implicated in cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

If you want to stay healthy avoid them!

Cheerrs