Trans Fat Linked To Increased Risk Of Heart Disease

A new study has once again proved that trans fat is harmful for our health. Irrespective of the fact that food containing trans fat may be good and it makes food items resist longer on our shelves it is never beneficial for our body. Trans fat is usually found in fried food, pizza, donuts and coffee creamer.

For this study researchers analyzed 50 studies which analyzed the way in which saturated fats influence adult health. It was observed that a higher consumption of saturated fat is not linked with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, stroke or heart disease. On the other hand the findings indicate that people who exaggerate when consuming trans fat are 34 percent more likely to die irrespective of the cause of death with 21 percent increased chances of developing heart disease and 28 percent higher chances of  dying because of this condition.

Besides the fact that the research proved that those who consume trans fat in higher amounts are more likely to die of heart disease compared to those who eat trans fat in smaller quantities, it also debunked the myth according to which saturated fats are harmful for people’s cardiovascular health. So instead of worrying about exceeding the saturated fats limit people should be concerned more about trans fat.

The lead author of the study assistant professor Russell de Souza from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics said:

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. 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.”

Past studies claim that saturated fats are linked with higher blood cholesterol. That is the reason why the American Heart Association recommended that people’s intake of saturated fats should be limited to around 13 grams per day. On the other hand trans fat has been associated with health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease for a long time. Moreover FDA (the United States Food and Drug Administration) has urged food manufacturers to stop using artificial trans fat in their products by 2018.
Image Source: insights.ingredientsnetwork.com