Nutrition

NYC Sets the Trend in the US by Banning Trans Fat from the Big Apple

Gone in a New York minute . In December 2006, the New York City Board of Health unanimously voted to ban trans fat from its 24,000 city restaurants. Some European countries have already instituted such bans against trans fat. The restaurants have until July 1, 2007 to make the change to fats (such as oils, margarine, and shortening) with less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, and until July 1, 2008 to remove trans fat from all other foods. Health organizations supporting these changes include the American College of Cardiology, American Diabetes Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The American Heart Association offered only lukewarm support of the ban and recommended instead a more gradual implementation of these changes and enough time for the required transition. NYC Health Commissioner, Dr. Thomas Frieden, states, ”We know that trans fats increase the chance of heart attack, stroke, and death, and they don't have to be there”. The National Restaurant Association did not support the ban and said that this indicates a lack of understanding of the restaurant industry.

Trans fats are formed from partially hydrogenating (adding hydrogen atoms which changes the molecular configuration) liquid vegetable oils. This process is used by the food industry to yield the soft fats needed to make shaped foods such as chips, crackers, cookies, and similar morsels. These partially hydrogenated fats are more stable at room temperature, cost less, and have more flavor. Soybean oil is one vegetable oil that needs to be partially hydrogenated in order to have the above desirable characteristics. Trans fats are unhealthy for you because they can raise your bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol (HDL), thus increasing your risk for heart disease. Large studies have reported the relationship of trans fat to the risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Foods having large amounts of trans fats include French Fries (4.7-6.0 grams), fruit turnovers (7.0 grams), and some fast food meals (10.0 grams). The American Heart Association recommends an intake of no more than 2 grams a day. The Food and Drug Administration states that food labels can indicate 0 grams of trans fat if the food has an actual content of 0.5 grams or less. The average individual consumes about 5-8 grams of trans fat a day.

Saturated fats are hardly better, although they reportedly only raise LDL. Saturated fats are found in animal fats (meat, poultry, fish, and milk fat) and even some vegetable fats (coconut and palm oil).

Fats preferred include monounsaturated fats (olive, canola, and peanut oils) and polyunsaturated fats (corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, walnut, and soy oils), and omega-3 fatty acids (deep coldwater fish such as salmon, tuna; and flaxseed, walnuts).

Recommendations to limit both trans and saturated fats include:<p>

• eat on average no more than about 6 oz daily of lean meat, poultry, and fish;

choose low fat or non fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese

• limit added fats such as margarine, butter, salad dressings, etc.

• use small amounts of olive oil on foods rather than margarines, etc.

• if you do use a tub spread, the Take Control and Benecol brands are specifically recommended by the American Diabetes Association due to their proven cholesterol lowering effect, but use no more than 1-2 tablespoons daily

• limit your intake of fried foods, snacks, sweets and other foods that indicate “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils” on the food label

Bon Appetit!

References:

Balay, Julie Lichty. September/October 2006. Trans Fat BeGone! Diabetes Self-Management, p. 8-13.

www.Diabetesin Control.Com December 21, 2006

Hu, Frank B., Manson, JoAnn E., Stampfer, Meir J. et al. (September 13, 2001). Diet, Lifestyle, and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Women. New England Journal of Medicine, vol 345, no. 11, p. 790-797.

Young, Nancy. December 16, 2006. The Skinny On Trans Fat. The Virginian-Pilot, p. A1, A16.