How Does Trans Fat Compare With Bad Fat?

— -- Question: How Does Trans Fat Compare With Bad Fat?

Answer: Trans fats are like saturated fats. They raise the blood cholesterol level. Trans fats come from hydrogenation of vegetable oils. And when vegetable oils are hardened by adding hydrogen, and the way it's done in industry, that basically makes the unsaturated fat and the trans fats, which will raise the cholesterol levels. They can be considered equivalent to saturated fats.

The difference is that you that are taking in, the average American is taking in, about one fourth as much trans fats as saturated fats. So the priority should stay on saturated fat, the animal fat products -- that's where first priority is, but the trans fats are an added factor, and you need to pay attention to that as well.

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