Trans Fatty Acids
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- Google Video
Trans Fatty Acids
Trans Fatty Acids are talked about a lot because it is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. What are they? Organic chemistry means carbon has to be involved because it is the base of the molecule, such as fatty acids. Fatty acids consist of a string of carbons (like a string of pearls) with oxygen and hydrogen towards the end of the chain. If the fatty acid is saturated, that means the carbons’ free bonding sites are all bonded to hydrogen atoms (saturated with hydrogens). In general saturated fats are not healthy for you. Unsaturated fatty acids mean some of the carbon atoms double bond to each other – and therefore let go of some hydrogen atoms (so not saturated with hydrogen atoms). When two carbon atoms are double bonded, there are 2 formations possible: cis and trans. Cis means in the 2 carbons that are double bonded, their 1 remaining hydrogen atoms are on the same side of the chain. Trans means in the 2 carbons that are double bonded, their 1 remaining hydrogen atoms are on the opposite sides of the chain. Saturated fats are linked to heart disease. Cis fats are unsaturated and tend to be a healthy type of fat. However, Trans fatty acids are considered to be worse than saturated fats because of it appears to increase the risk coronary heart disease (CHD) events, such as heart attacks. Trans fats are called partially hydrogenated oils because once there were 2 double bonded carbons, and it was changed to only 1 double carbon – so the other double bonded carbon because single bonded and 2 hydrogen were added (i.e. hydrogenated) Saturated fats have no health benefits, so why are they used? Taste and the palatable nature of it, that is why. Trans fats are stable in fried cooking, and they have a long shelf life. They are often used in deep-fried fast foods, margarine, baked goods, packaged snacks, crackers, though naturally found as well in meat and dairy. Such fun foods that have a high percentage of trans fats include: French fries, breaded fish burgers, breaded chicken nuggets, enchildas, pies, danishes, doughnuts. Americans average 2-3% of total calories to trans fatty acids, which is about 2-7grams a day. It appears if trans fats are virtually eliminated from the American diet and replaced by cis fatty acids, CHD events would be reduced by 22%.
Google Video | September 27, 2007
