The truth about trans fats
Trans fats are a man-made type of saturated fat. They’re also known as partially hydrogenated oils, as hydrogen is added to liquid vegetable oil to make these fats solid at room temperature.
Trans fats give foods a satisfying crunch and help them stay fresh longer on store shelves. But in your body, they raise LDL cholesterol, lower HDL cholesterol, and increase the risk of heart disease.
Trans fats can be found in foods like:
- French fries, fried chicken, and other fried foods
- store-bought baked goods, such as pies, cookies, and crackers
- chips and other processed snack foods
- frozen pizza
Health hack
Want the crunch of fried food but not the saturated fat? Dip chicken or fish in low fat buttermilk, roll them in breadcrumbs, and coat them with a thin layer of olive or peanut oil. Then bake at a high temperature, or put them in an air fryer for a crunchy fried-like texture.
