This section discusses the health implications of trans fats and key dietary recommendations. Once thought to be a healthier alternative to saturated fats, trans fats are now considered a major health concern. There is sufficient research that links trans fats with coronary heart disease (CHD). Trans fats negatively impact blood cholesterol. They raise low density lipoproteins (LDL), also know as “bad” cholesterol levels and lower high density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. In general, HDL helps remove cholesterol from the blood by carrying it back to the liver where the body can get rid of it, while LDL carries cholesterol through the body making it available for deposit into the arteries . Continuing research suggests that a diet high in trans fatty acids may contribute to other serious health problems as well. Dietary RecommendationsTrans fats are generally considered harmful, so recommendations are to limit their intake. It is not clear how much trans fats people are consuming daily, but the FDA estimates that the average daily intake of trans fats in the U.S. population is about 5.8 grams or 2.6 percent of calories per day for individuals 20 years of age and older. The American Heart Association recommends that trans fats intake be limited to less than 1% of total calories, or approximately 2 to 2.5 grams of trans fats per day. The U.S. Government’s recommendation in its 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to consume less than 10% of calories from saturated fat and “keep trans fatty acid consumption as low as possible”. For more detailed information on specific health studies and continuing research visit these sites: New England Journal of Medicine American Dietetics Association |
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