FOR the longest time, we always blame sugar as the worst food that triggers heart problems. Well, not anymore. According to experts it’s trans fat that increases risk for heart disease and stroke. Let’s know why.
There are two types of trans fat: Natural which comes from the ruminant of animals and is safe to consume; and Artificial or processed food, such as cakes, chips, cooking oil, fries, nuggets, margarine, frozen pizza, bread spreads, donuts, and many more. These foods are rich in trans fat that, if consumed without care, can lead to heart disease and other cardiovascular issues.
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High Cholesterol. Food loaded with trans fat increases ‘bad’ cholesterol and lowers ‘good’ cholesterol. When bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is always high, plaque congeals to the lining of the blood vessels that may lead to heart disease or stroke. So, always have your cholesterol level checked.
Insulin Resistance. According to World Health Organization (WHO), consuming food loaded in trans fat lowers insulin resistance. Our pancreas makes insulin to help glucose penetrate the body’s cells. Without enough insulin, excess glucose or sugar retains in the bloodstream that prevents it from penetrating into the cells, which may lead to diabetes. People with diabetes are “twice as likely” to develop heart disease or experience stroke.
Inflammation. Studies show that artificial trans fat may increase inflammatory markers implicated to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic conditions. It is believed that trans fat may damage endothelium, the lining of the bloodstream. High consumption of trans fat may lead to vascular inflammation and lower the amount of vascular nitric oxide that makes the blood vessels healthy.
Clogged arteries. Or coronary heart disease, the narrowing of the coronary arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. Clogged arteries causes atherosclerosis, the increase of fatty material or trans fat that sticks and clogs coronary arteries. One Nurse’s Health Study done with women who consume more trans fat reveals that the risk of a heart attack is 50% higher than those women who consume less trans fat.
High Triglycerides. Trans fat increases triglyceride levels. High blood triglyceride is a type of lipid disorder that hardens or thickens the artery walls or arteriosclerosis. Thickening of the artery walls or hardening of the arteries increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, or heart disease.
Heart advice: Reduce trans fat intake by limiting red meat, oily food, sweets, sodas and juices, cooking oil, fast and processed food, chips, fries, burgers, canned goods; reading food label; exercising at least 30 minutes a day in a week; consulting a doctor on a regular basis: leading a healthy lifestyle and being happy.
