Trans Fat
I read an article by Julia Griggs Havey about these in eDiets, which sends me a newsletter almost in a daily manner. Some stuff are just commercials (Buy this, buy that, etc etc) but you do get some nice little tips and info from time-to-time. This was one of those.
Trans Fatty Acids are fats generally contained in yummy, yummy processed foods such as cookies, pastries, snacks, fast food (and fried food), dressings, and shortening. While one of the down-sides to consuming these is weight gain (or impeded weight loss), the major baddie is that these foods risk your health because trans fatty acids increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and reduce HDL (the good kind of cholesterol).
Apparently these trans fatty acids are the culprits to making all those unhealthy things taste so good. They are like a drug to us and we crave those things more than we should. A list for the ‘Top 10' foods with trans fat follows:
1. Spreads. Margarine, for example, contains both trans fats and saturated fats, both of which can lead to heart disease. Other non-butter spreads and shortening also contain large amounts of trans fat and saturated fat.
2. Packaged Foods. Favorites such as cake mixes and Bisquick contain generally have several grams of trans fat per serving.
3. Soups. For example, ramen noodles and soup cups contain very high levels of trans fat.
4. Fast Food. Those beloved french fries and other crunchy foods are deep-fried in partially hydrogenated oil.
5. Frozen Food. From frozen pies to pot pies to breaded fish sticks, frozen foods generally contain trans fat. Even if the label says the product is low-fat, it can contain trans fat.
6. Baked Goods. Commercially baked products contain more trans fats than any other foods. Examples include doughnuts, cookies and cakes.
7. Chips and Crackers. That crispy texture comes from shortening. Even reduced fat brands may contain trans fat.
8. Breakfast Food. Cereals and energy bars often contain trans fats, even if the labels claim to be “healthy.”
9. Cookies and Candy. Check the labels for the fat content. For example, a chocolate bar probably will contain more trans fat than gummy bears.
10. Toppings and Dips. Flavored coffees, nondairy creamers, whipped toppings, gravy mixes and salad dressings typically contain trans fat.
So I am here looking at this list and WhaddaYaKnow! I am guilty of loving all these products... and these are just the top 10 list! I am sure that my next 25 or 30 are also all foods dipped in trans fat goodness.
Or who knows.
I’ve been doing much progress in my eating habits. Like I mentioned earlier, I am a vegetarian now! Or at last I wish to consider myself one. For three months I haven’t touched any animal products Except for cheese and eggs. Cheese is sooooo good and well eggs... they’ve got few calories and natural ‘good’ cholesterol.
I have only touched fast food twice in this 3-month period. The first was about 3 weeks ago when Husband was feeling very hungry and he bought a grilled chicken sandwich from McDonalds. The meal came with the fries and well, I ate the fries. Bad bad me! Okay, the second was this past weekend. We had friends over and we were at the movies and they were hungry so we drove to the nearest hmm Burger King and while they ate their burgers I once more indulged in Hubby’s fries. I gotta stop that.
With my new No-Meat-of-Any-Kind eating habits, I am finding it more and more difficult to be able to eat outside (yey!). Since I can’t eat out much, Husband doesn’t eat out much either and that is great. Our options have narrowed from Every restaurant and fast-food joint in the valley to Mexican restaurants (I get to eat the grilled cheese, which is... grilled cheese, no more) and Chillis (because they offer veggie burgers and their side of vegetables are quite yummy).
I think this annoys people down here. Often we’ve been asked to go out and eat but we turn down the offers because I can’t really eat much of what’s on the menus. If we do go I spend the time just drinking my tea and picking at husband’s mashed potatoes or vegetables (which he won’t touch!) While everyone else is eating their hearts content... and I think this makes people uncomfortable or self conscious even though some of these friends are thin as twigs (grrrr).
But anyway! Me’sa getting healthier, I know it... I am not losing weight yet (oh delicious pasta come to me!) But in due time... all in due time.
P.S. The doctor said that Husband has lost 10 lbs, reduced cholesterol, reduced high blood pressure, and reduced his sugar levels... and all thanks to me! ‘Cause I cook him healthy, vegetable-oriented food where perhaps the closest hint to meat is just chicken! Home-prepared chicken ^_^. Me’s such a good wife.
