Trans fats and health - introduction

The trans fats created during hydrogenation are uniquely bad for human health - far worse than the saturated animal fats and saturated tropical oils that many people are scared of. This is because they are unnatural fats, which do not exist in nature: unsaturated fats which mimic saturated fats.

Trans fats confuse the human body and its various metabolic pathways. As a result they end up in the wrong places, doing the wrong thing. And so they send tens of even hundreds of thousands of people worldwide to an early grave every year.

Specifically, dietary trans fats

• raise LDL (Low-Density Lipo-proteins, known as "bad" cholesterol) and lower HDL (High-Density Lipo-proteins, known as "good" cholesterol) levels.
• promote the formation of arterial plaque, leading to circulation problems, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke;
• predispose to cancer, multiple scelerosis, diverticulisis and obesity.
• decrease the response of human cells to insulin, a factor in both adult-onset (type 2) diabetes and obesity. See here for more information.
• when consumed by pregnant women, introduce themselves into the tissues of unborn babies and reduce their birth weight. See here for more information.
• when consumed by breast-feeding mothers, enter into mothers milk, reducing cream levels and the amount of essential fatty acids. See here for more information.
• assimilate into cell membranes to levels as high 20 percent, weakening their structure and protective function.
• weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibtibility to infections.
• inhibit the action of enzymes that destroy toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
• block the beneficial action of the essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
• reduce the elasticity of blood vessels.
• promote the onset of Alzheimer's disease and accelerate mental decline among elderly people. See here for more information.
• may produce severe allergic and other reactions, with reports of strong hayfever symptoms and yeast infections. See here for more information.

For further information, see Health impacts and Scientific and other reports.