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Smart Health Facts!
by Dr. Reuven Bruner, Ph.D.
A key factor in maintaining optimal health is avoiding the
damaging fats found in many foods. These include saturated
fats, and partially hydrogenated fats, which also are known
as trans-fatty acids. Saturated fats in high-fat meat and
dairy products raise cholesterol levels, which increases risk
for cardiovascular disease. Hydrogenated fats are even
worse!
Trans fats have been chemically altered, unnaturally
saturated, by food manufacturers to make them more solid at
room temperature. While this process improves shelf life, it
also changes the molecular structure of the fat. These
chemically altered fats raise LDL (bad cholesterol) levels,
lower HDL (good cholesterol) levels and raise blood
triglyceride levels even higher than natural saturated fats.
Trans fats may increase blood levels of Lp(a), the
lipoprotein associated with increased risk of heart disease,
and disrupt normal metabolic function. Trans fats have been
linked to cancer and can damage the immune and reproductive
systems. They also can alter energy metabolism, fat
metabolism and essential fatty acid metabolism, as well as
liver function and cell membranes.
Be sure to carefully read food labels, as trans fats can show
up in places you would never suspect, including cocoa powder
mixes, salad dressings, peanut butter, most cookies,
crackers, bread products, frostings, packaged soups, boxed
cereals and even in some sports drinks, as well as margarine.
Avoiding everything that contains partially hydrogenated oils
will help you reduce your risk of degenerative diseases.
Good Fats!
It's important to consume some healthy fats, though. Fat is
necessary for normal brain development during infancy and
childhood. And while your body requires much less fat in
adulthood, it does require some "quality" fats to keep your
metabolism functioning at optimal levels, enhance the
absorption of antioxidants and protect your cardiovascular
system. Healthy fats you should include in your diet are
omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil supplements
and dietary servings of fish such as salmon, mackerel,
anchovies, herring and sardines.
2004 Dr. Reuven Bruner. All Rights Reserved.
Contact him at: POB 1903, Jerusalem, 91314, Israel; Tel: (02)
652-7684; Mobile: 052 2865-821; Fax: (02) 652-7227; Email:
dr_bruner@hotmail.com
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