Just Curious . . . Can YOU Name Three Foods That Contain Trans Fats?
Ok. A little off the beaten path. Admittedly. But, I found the results of a recent poll too interesting to ignore completely.
While most of us know we should avoid trans fats, only 20 percent of us actually know which foods contain them. So says a survey conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado-Denver, and published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Trans fats, also known as hydrogenated oils, are produced artificially by adding extra hydrogen atoms to unsaturated vegetable oils. Historically, trans fats were favored over conventional oils because of their increased shelf life. Unlike natural oils, however, trans fats have little nutritional value, and reportedly increase the potential risk of cardiovascular disease. In essence, the experts say, trans fats increase a human body's levels of “bad” cholesterol, while lowering the levels of "good" cholesterol.
Notably, in the recent survey, 92 percent of respondents said they had heard of trans fats. Congrats (almost) to all. In turn, of those who actually heard of the fats, nearly 75 percent were aware that consuming the oils could increase the risk of heart disease. Excellent work! Nevertheless, when respondents were asked to identify only three foods that actually contain trans fats, only 21 percent were up to the challenge. Hmmm.
So, what about the rest of us? Go ahead, ask a colleague. Or, perhaps, ask yourself. Despite all the sensationalism, media coverage, lawsuits (virtually all of which have failed) and general awareness (it would seem) of the subject, are YOU really able to name at least three foods that contain trans fats? The odds, my friends, suggest not.
In any event, just so it's clear, there's no real story (or intent) here.
Rather, we simply happened to be, well, just a bit curious . . .
