Why are Trans Fats Bad? The Dangers of Trans Fats & How They Affect Your Health
Trans Fats Research and Disadvantages of Eating Trans Fats
There are numerous disadvantages to eating trans fats .Trans fat research has linked trans fatty acids to low birth weight in infants, low quality and volume of breast milk, abnormal sperm production, decreased testosterone in men, heart disease, high levels of harmful cholesterol in humans, prostate disease, obesity, suppression of the immune system, essential fatty acid deficiencies and cancer; this is only the short list.
The reasons for these health effects will be varied. On the one hand, fatty acids are the structural element of every membrane in the body. How well a body’s cells hang together, and how well they move materials into and out of themselves will be affected by the nature of the cells membranes. Trans fatty acids will interfere with the normal functioning of the cell’s membranes of account of their structure. Optimum health will be impaired if cells can not function normally.
Furthermore, fatty acids are used by cells as the raw materials from which many other substances are manufactured. The presence of damaged trans fatty acids can lead to imbalances, and depletions of different compounds, and as described in the previous section, depletions of enzymes themselves. This also will lead to unwanted health affects.
Case Study: How I Cured My Own Skin Condition by Banning Trans Fats
In addition to the conditions mentioned above, I can personally testify to the beneficial effect that ridding my diet of trans fats had upon my own health. I suffered from adult acne all through my twenties. When I finally discovered the connection between acne and trans fats I was able to completely eliminate the condition from then on providing that I maintained a trans-fat free diet. This was not difficult to do, but it did take some attention to accomplish. It was quite obvious that the elimination of trans fats from my diet was the main reason that I was able to overcome my condition of adult acne. All I needed to do to cause a return of acne to my skin was to eat a handful of trans fat rich crackers (or chips or whatever else) and voila! acne would appear on my face once again. There were other aspects to this cure, but the main factor was the elimination of trans fats from my diet. Once I had eliminated trans fats it no longer mattered what I put onto my skin, how often I washed it, or what I washed it with.
Other writers have written about the connection of acne and inflammatory disease (caused by omega-3 fatty acid deficiency).This makes sense and could be added to an acne eliminating regime but in my case of inadvertent trans fats research, eliminating acne was simply a matter of eliminating trans fats, and nothing more.
Check out the other articles in this series to find out more about the disadvantages of eating trans fats and how to eliminate trans fats from your own diet.
Reference:
Murray, Michael T. N.D., and Jade Beutler, R.R.T., R.C.P., “Understanding the Terminology” Understanding Fats & Oils: your guide to Healing with Essential Fatty Acids., 1996, Progressive health Publishing, Encinitas, CA., page 12
This post is part of the series: Trans Fats
Trans Fats are hidden in many foods. Finding them requires some understanding, and eliminating them from your diet is imperative. This series takes a good look at trans fats.