Harvard Medical School studies have shown a clear link between the different types of fat and heart disease. Trans fats are far worse than saturated fats. The Nurses Health Study showed that by replacing just 7 g of carbohydrates with 4 g of trans fats a day (30 calories), women doubled their risk of developing heart disease. Surprisingly, by replacing 80 calories worth of carbohydrates with 80 calories of good fat (polyunsaturated or monounsaturated), women decreased their risk of heart disease by at least 30%.

Trans-fats are harmful. They increase levels of bad cholesterol and suppress good cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease. Try to avoid commercially made snacks like chips, cookies and doughnuts, and read labels. Avoid anything that includes the words ‘partially hydrogenated’ before any type of vegetable oil. Even if a product claims ‘No Trans Fats’, a serving could still contain 0.5 g, so trans fats could still be sneaking up on you.

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