[Gathnet] Good web site describing fats

[SKM]

Gathnetters,
	This information is probably of interest to only some of you,
but should be of interest to all. One of the most complex aspects of the
effect of diet on health is the effect of various fats. For example,
most of you may realize that olive oil is better for you than butter.
This site gives a very good scientific summary of what these fat
components are:
http://www.scientificpsychic.com/fitness/fattyacids.html 

Of note is the VERY HARMFUL effect of "partially hydrogenated vegetable
oils" (trans fats). This is what margarine is; it is a major component
of many, many prepared foods such as cookies, frostings, and even
spinach soufflé. You have to read the label. In effect, margarine is
about five times as bad for you as lard.


"Trans fats are bad for your heart. Dietary trans fats raise the level
of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or "bad cholesterol") increasing the
risk of coronary heart disease. Trans fats also reduce high-density
lipoproteins (HDL or "good cholesterol"), and raise levels of
triglycerides in the blood. Both of these conditions are associated with
insulin resistance which is linked to diabetes, hypertension, and
cardiovascular disease. Harvard University researchers have reported
that people who ate partially hydrogenated oils, which are high in Trans
fats, had nearly twice the risk of heart attacks compared with those who
did not consume hydrogenated oils. Because of the overwhelming
scientific evidence linking Trans fats to cardiovascular diseases, the
Food and Drug Administration will require all food labels to disclose
the amount of Trans fat per serving, starting in 2006.

Trans fats are bad for your brain. Trans fats also have a detrimental
effect on the brain and nervous system. Neural tissue consists mainly of
lipids and fats. Myelin, the protective sheath that covers communicating
neurons, is composed of 30% protein and 70% fat. Oleic acid and DHA are
two of the principal fatty acids in myelin. Studies show that trans
fatty acids in the diet get incorporated into brain cell membranes,
including the myelin sheath that insulates neurons. These synthetic fats
replace the natural DHA in the membrane, which affects the electrical
activity of the neuron. Trans fatty acid molecules alter the ability of
neurons to communicate and may cause neural degeneration and diminished
mental performance. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and
Alzheimer's appear to exhibit membrane loss of fatty acids.
Unfortunately, our ingestion of trans fatty acids starts in infancy. A
Canadian study showed that an average of 7.2% of the total fatty acids
of human breast milk consisted of trans fatty acids which originated
from the consumption of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils by the
mothers.

By now, it is a well-established fact that trans fats are harmful and
are responsible for causing thousands of deaths per year from
cardiovascular diseases, but hydrogenated fats continue to be added to
so many food products that it almost impossible to avoid them.
Frequently, even lard is hydrogenated! Why aren't these products banned?
Because manufacturers with a lot of political influence don't want to
lose money on products that might turn rancid before they are sold. Fast
modern distribution methods, good packaging, and controlled temperature
storage could solve this problem and deliver healthier products to the
consumers, but it would increase costs. One of the latest trends used by
manufacturers is to avoid the word "hydrogenated" and to obtain oils
from foreign sources where our regulations do not apply. Some products
use "Modified Palm Oil" without mentioning the process used to modify
the oil. The modification could be a simple fractionation to separate
high-melting from low-melting triglycerides, but it could involve
hydrogenation."