|
|
Hydrogenated Oils May Increase Risk for Type-2 DiabetesBy Shana Hopkins, MS, CN, WAC Nutritionist
Recent research from the Nurse's Health Study looked at the relationship between the consumption of saturated and unsaturated fats and the onset of Type-2 diabetes. Interestingly enough, both total fat intake and saturated fat intake—the kind of fat found in cheese, dairy foods, and red meats—was not associated with the onset of diabetes. However, the high consumption of trans fats, which are found in hydrogenated oils, strongly increased the risk for this disease. Hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils are found in manufactured and refined food products. Typical foods that contain them include margarine, most peanut butter and candy bars. Food manufactures add these kinds of oils to foods in order to increase their shelf life. However, the body does not recognize trans fats and large amounts of trans fats in the body, thus, leading to a disruption in biochemistry which, over time, has an impact on disease. Trans fats, or hydrogenated oils, have been implicated in coronary heart disease for many years now. The bottom line is that trans fats found in hydrogenated oils are bad news. The best thing you can do is to educate yourself. Read the ingredient labels of food products, and if you find hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil in the ingredient list, stay away!
|
