In October of last year, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a report showing that the amount of trans fats Americans eat has declined over the years, but we are still consuming more than is recommended.
Trans fats are often found in processed foods, like cookies, pizzas, pastries, pies, and so many more.
The study from AHA found that men consumed about 1.9 percent of their daily calories from trans fats, and women about 1.7 percent. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 1 percent of daily calories to be trans fats.
Now, the FDA is ordering the food industry to eliminate trans fats all together, calling them a threat to public health.
New research from McMaster University shows that trans fats are linked to early death and heart disease risk, providing more fuel to the fire for food companies to eliminate these fats from their products.
“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,” said lead author Russell de Souza. “That said, we aren’t advocating an increase of the allowance for saturated fats in dietary guidelines, as we don’t see evidence that higher limits would be specifically beneficial to health.”
To help clear up controversies about trans fats, de Souza and his team analyzed 50 studies on the subject of trans fats and saturated fats in relation to health effects.
The team did not find a clear link between saturated fats and heart disease. However, consumption of trans fats was associated with 34 percent increase in death for any reason, 28 percent death risk from coronary heart disease (CHD), and a 21 percent risk of developing CHD.
Instead of eating processed foods and desserts, try healthier alternatives like raw chocolate balls, our dairy free organic coconut coffee ice cream, or our raw chocolate lava cake recipe.
The study showing that trans fats are linked to early death and heart disease risk was published in the BMJ.
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Americans still consuming too much trans fats.
Hospitalizations and deaths from heart disease, stroke drop in the last decade.
FDA is ordering the food industry to eliminate trans fats.
REFERENCES:
1. “Trans Fats, but Not Saturated Fats, Linked to Greater Risk of Death and Heart Disease.” Newswise. McMaster University, 7 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.
2. “Trans Fats, but Not Saturated Fats, Linked to Greater Risk of Death and Heart Disease.” The BMJ (n.d.): n. pag. BMJ. BMJ, 12 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.
3. “Trans Fats Still Weighing Americans down.” AHA Newsroom. American Heart Association, 22 Oct. 2014. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.
4. “FDA Tells Food Industry to Phase out Artificial Trans Fats.” ABC News. ABC News Network, 16 June 2015. Web. 17 Aug. 2015.
