Not good for heart

Muscat: To ensure a healthy society, the Sultanate of Oman banned the import and use of partially hydrogenated oils from July 24. So, what are partially hydrogenated oils? While scientists are split over saturated fats, they fully agree that partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats are harmful. It raises bad cholesterol (LDL) while lowering good cholesterol (HDL), making it a leading cause of heart diseases and obesity, according to some studies.

The US FDA now requires all food companies to eliminate artificial trans fats. Hydrogenation is the chemical process by which liquid vegetable oil is converted into a semi-solid fat in an effort to change its physical properties for cost-effective food production. But, breaking down the natural properties of food renders them unrecognised by the body, eventually causing harm. This is the case with partially hydrogenated oils, which contain unsaturated fatty acids. These trans fats not only alter cholesterol levels in the body, but are also linked to a myriad of diseases including stroke and diabetes.

One must avoid foods, which do not specify whether it is partially or fully hydrogenated. Sometimes hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated are used interchangeably or incorrectly, resulting in you buying a food item that you think is fat-free, but it is not. Only if the label clearly states that the food contains fully hydrogenated oil, you are good to go. However, the healthy option is fat-free.

According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, the consumption of trans fats per person in general should be less than 4.5 grams per day or 2 per cent of the total energy (2000 calories per day).

Hydrogenated oils are made by cooking vegetable oils at high temperatures and adding hydrogen and a catalytic metal such as nickel. This process allows the oil to cool as a solid. Unlike saturated animal fats such as butter or lard, which already contain hydrogen molecules, hydrogenated fats are artificially saturated. Your body doesn't recognise this process and has a hard time digesting the molecules, which causes them to stay in your body longer, raising cholesterol levels, and reducing the ability to produce prostaglandins that may cause heart problems.

Care must be taken to avoid eating white bread, coffee whiteners, donuts, peanut butter, fried items and other processed fast food that often contain trans fats and go for whole grain foods, vegetables and fruits.

The Director of Nutrition at the WHO, Dr Francesco Branca, stated that it was important for governments to take decisive action in this regard. He said, “If we really want to eliminate the dangers of excess saturated fat, there needs to be strong and vital action from governments to ensure that manufactured products do not use hydrogenated vegetable oils. Saturated fat removal is done in many countries without consumers noticing any difference in taste. The producer can use another type of fat with the same specifications, so that the consumer can enjoy baked goods that do not contain saturated fat."