The dietitians offer time-saving tips and techniques to help you adapt your favorite recipes. Margarine vs. Butter Controversy BIG controversy . Trans fatty acids are formed when vegetable oil is processed to a hardened or semi-hardened state. Currently, food labels do not list total grams of trans fatty acids. If the label lists saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, however, you can figure out how many grams of trans are in the product.
Hydrogenated fats appear in many processed foods from margarine to crackers to canned soups.
Hydrogenated fat may also be in the deep fat fryers at your favorite restaurant. We know that a high saturated fat diet increases the risk of heart disease. More and more studies are demonstrating that a diet high in trans fat also increases the risk. A recent long-term study found that the participants with the most trans fat in their diets had the highest risk of heart disease, regardless of their total fat intake. It is estimated that most of us eat from 8 to 12 grams of trans fat a day.