What is the health difference between trans fat and partially hydrogenated oil?
My store brand Wheat Thins contain partially hydrogenated oil and brags on the box that it contains zero grams trans fat. I know that I should not be eating trans fats, but what are the effects of partially hydrogenated oil? Is it safe?
Thank you for your enlightening comments. After reading them, it seems the FDA should do something about this. Technically the advertising on the box is true, but it is misleading in that it seems to say that the fat content of the product is safe.
The box actually says 0g trans fat and then in smaller letters it says per serving. Trans fats do include partially hydrogenated oils but the amount per serving probably must be less than .5g which allows them to make this claim.
July 11th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
NO NO NO!
Partially hydrogenated oil is worse for you then trans fats.
In simple terms trans fat raise you bad cholesterol (LDL)
while partial hydrogenated oils raise you bad cholesterol, but they also lower your good cholesterol (HDL).
So it has a double effect.
Stay away from it!!!
July 11th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I thought trans fat and partially hydrogenated oil were synonymous. Partially hydrogenated means the oils have been chemically altered to retain shape, (like margarine and Crisco). Our bodies cannot handle the chemical change and therefore the health problems related to partially hydrogenated oils. I’d stay away from the wheat thins, and complain about false advertising.
October 29th, 2010 at 5:01 am
When you eat partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oil, it metabolizes into trans fat, which effectively raises your bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) levels and lowers good (high-denisty lipoprotein, or HDL) cholesterol levels. Your liver is responsible for dispatching cholesterol throughout the body, which is needed for the production of cells and other organs (it is what comprises the semi-impermeable membranes of cells). Too much of these fats traveling through the blood will clog arteries leading to a series of health complications, most notably heart and coronary disease. Since trans fat is naturally occurring in both human and animal bodies, it is possible to procure it through animal foods like dairy and meat. Avoid all hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated foods (especially fried foods from fast food places) as these will only lead you to weight gain and arterial disease. Eat monounsaturated fats the most, followed by polyunsaturated fats and a very small amount of saturated fat (approximately 10 percent of your daily caloric intake).
November 28th, 2010 at 12:07 am
I like Dr 8’lls response for its accuracy. Hydrogenated oils have a mixture of saturated and trans fatty acids to raise the melting point of the oil and reduce spoilage.
Saturated and trans fats in the diet accelerate the development of arterial plaques.