Miranda Parker
Kaplan University
Abstract
Trans fat is double trouble for your health. Trans fat raises your LDL (low density lipoprotein) “bad” Cholesterol and lowers your HDL (high density lipoprotein) “good: cholesterol. Trans fat is considered by many doctors to be the worst type of fat you can eat. A high LDL cholesterol level in combination with a low HDL cholesterol level increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of men and women. Trans fat is formed through an industrial process that ads hydrogen to vegetable oil, which causes the oil to become solid at room temperature. The manufactures form of trans fat, known as partially hydrogenated oil, is found in variety of food products, including:
Baked goods. Cookies, cakes, pie crusts and crackers
Snacks. Potato chips, tortilla chips and microwaveable popcorn
Fried foods
Refrigerator dough
Creamer and margarine
How can trans fats harm you? If the fatty deposits within your arteries tear or rupture, a blood clot may form and block blood flow to your heart, causing a heart attack, or to a part of your brain, causing a stroke.
Keywords: Trans fats, HDL, LDL
Cholesterol, the good, the bad and the ugly!
Why are lipids important?
Cholesterol is a type of lipid (fat). Lipids are substances that do not dissolve in water but are soluble in organic solvents. Lipids have several important roles in the body providing a source of energy, an important part of the membrane surrounding every body cell, the basic building blocks from which several hormones (chemical messengers) and bile acids (digestive juices) are made, and components of the nervous system. The body contains several lipids. Some are vital components of your brain. Important group includes phospholipids, which resemble triglycerides in structure. The difference is that one of the fatty acid groups is replaced by one that contains phosphorus. This alters the properties of the
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