The Good, The Bad, and The Unhealthy: Artificial vs. Naturally Occurring Trans Fats

We all reach out for a salty or sweet snack from time to time, but there may be trans fats lurking in your favorite cracker or cookie. What are trans fats anyway? This type of fat has chemicals that are harmful to our cardiovascular system. In fact, they are banned in most European countries and, in recent years, by the FDA here in the United States. 

Despite this ban, there may yet be products lurking in your pantry or at the grocery store with a distant expiration date that contain these dreaded fats. The simplest way to identify artificial trans fats is to search the package ingredient and look for partially hydrogenated oil. Per “Trans Fatty Acids and Lipid Profile”, “Studies have linked consumption of trans fats to heart disease, inflammation, higher LDL (bad) cholesterol, and lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Even though the FDA has recently banned “artificial” trans fats, there is not a ban on naturally occurring trans fats.

When it comes to naturally occurring trans fats, the most popular one is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This fat has been linked to weight loss and overall health benefits. It is mostly found in grass-fed animals, as opposed to animals that are fed grain. 

The tricky part when it comes to CLA is when you ingest it as a dietary supplement. The reason being is that some forms of CLA supplements are made by chemically changing the linoleic acid (omega-6), which has a larger fat dose than the natural form of CLA. According to the study entitled “A high dose of conjugated linoleic acid increases fatty liver and insulin resistance in lactating mice”, this can be harmful to your liver or increase insulin levels, which can be detrimental to your health.

With any new diet or supplement, it is crucial to bring your doctor in the loop to ensure that you are contributing to healthy habits instead of compromising them. If you have Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, it is especially important to eat properly and take extra measures to make sure you are on the right diet and supplement regimen.