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Houston's premier web resource for moms!
Bridget Leigh Pugh is a wife, Stay-at-Home
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
Mother of two children, and dual business owner
in Houston, Texas specializing in Organic
cuisine. Her work in Fair Trade and support of
local farmers is known throughout the Southern
United States. Check out http://www.fudgette.com
"The trick is to know where the
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Healthy Houston Hot Spots are and
what to get when you are there."
Want to cook healthy for your family but you're
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
not sure where to begin? Here's your chance
to ask a real live chef!
Email Bridget now.
Trans Fat: What All Moms Need to Know About
the Worst Kind of Fat
Five years ago, most Americans had never even heard about Trans fat, a
dangerous fatty acid that has been banned in many European countries for
years. Then, in 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began warning
citizens about a fat that leads to serious health problems. New nutritional
labeling laws were passed requiring food manufacturers to list Trans fat on
all their labels. Most Americans now flip the box to check for the presence of
Trans fatty acids on the nutrition label, but many Moms don’t know exactly
why Trans fat is now considered even more of a health risk that saturated
fat. This article is a complete informational resource for Moms interested in
guarding their family against Trans fat, and gives great ideas to live a
healthier, Trans fat-free life.
What is Trans Fat?
Trans fat is a fat that can be artificial or natural. Trace amounts of Trans fatty
acids can naturally be found in beef and dairy products. Artificial Trans fats
are made when hydrogen gas reacts with oil. The reason that artificial Trans
fats were added to foods was because it prolonged shelf life and flavor
stability, making manufacturers more cost effective
Why is it Unhealthy?
Besides having no nutritional value (the human body has no need for this
substance to survive, unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and other fats), Trans
fat is also scientifically proven to clog arteries and cause both obesity and
heart disease. At the University of Maryland, a recent study found that
children as young as 7, 8, and 9 had heart disease directly related to a diet
including moderate amounts of Trans fat. Trans fat raises bad cholesterol
but also goes a step further by lowering good cholesterol, a double-
whammy to the heart. Trans fat damages the liver as well. And Moms, listen
up, because Trans fats single-handedly double the risk of heart disease in
women and is known to cause infertility. By avoiding all foods with Trans
fats, Moms can significantly decrease their family’s risk of heart attack and
stroke.
How Much Trans Fat is Too Much?
Again, humans have no nutritional need for Trans fat, so any amount at all
does nothing but harm the body. Moms are shocked to know that a small
sized Kid’s Happy Meal with Cheeseburger and French Fries contains a
horrific 4.5 grams of Trans fat, along with a whopping 8 grams of saturated
fat. Together, this meal accounts for approximately 12.5 grams of artery-
clogging fat for Mom’s little eaters. And not to just pick on McDonalds,
because according to ACalorieCounter.com, five other fast food
establishments serve even higher levels of Trans fat in their foods. Many sit-
down family restaurants still fry their French fries and chicken fingers in the
same oil as fast food establishments, so spending a few more dollars still
exposes kids to this dangerous fat. In a nutshell, any Trans fat is too much!
What Foods Contain Trans Fat?
The most common supermarket foods containing Trans fat are shortenings,
margarine, crackers, chips, cookies, snack foods, cake, pies, candy bars,
breads, and microwave popcorn. As mentioned earlier, fast food is known to
include Trans fat in many of its dishes, as well as most family-favorite
restaurants. When looking over this list, it is obvious how often children are
exposed to this dangerous fat. Moms, write down the foods most likely to
contain Trans fat and bring it when grocery shopping for the family.
How Can Moms and Kids Avoid Trans fats?
Moms need to make a habit out of checking all labels of kid’s snack foods
before buying them, or better yet, just stop snacking on traditional snack
items full of sugary, processed, and fat-filled ingredients. Eating at home is
not only economical, but also much healthier as a general rule. Kids love to
get involved with food choices, so creating a game out of finding healthy
substitutes for unhealthy favorites is a great way to get kids excited about
eating healthy. Try substituting fried chicken tenders from a drive-thru for
grilled or charbroiled chicken breast strips served with many different
dipping choices. Moms can also replace crackers, chips, and cookies with
sweet, ripe summer fruits and veggies. And serving family-style meals on
large platters with lots of small-cut, healthy choices makes kids more open
to trying new items. Check out this month’s feature recipe for Summer
Tapas, a great family-style dinner that packs a ton of nutrition into lots of little
bites!
In a nutshell, while other dietary fats are good in small and moderate
amounts, Trans fat is by far in another category. Not only does it not serve a
nutritional purpose, it also causes heart disease, liver problems, obesity,
infertility, high cholesterol, and other diseases. Trans fat is also linked to
childhood heart disease, increasing a young person’s risk of heart attack
and stroke, as early as 7 years old. Many snack foods, fast foods, and sit-
down restaurant entrees include Trans fat, and any amount at all is
unhealthy. By making small steps to live a healthier life and eating more at
home, Moms can guard their children from this dangerous substance. Now
that Moms are armed with this knowledge, they can make better, healthier
decisions to feed a healthy family!
the Worst Kind of Fat
Five years ago, most Americans had never even heard about Trans fat, a
dangerous fatty acid that has been banned in many European countries for
years. Then, in 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration began warning
citizens about a fat that leads to serious health problems. New nutritional
labeling laws were passed requiring food manufacturers to list Trans fat on
all their labels. Most Americans now flip the box to check for the presence of
Trans fatty acids on the nutrition label, but many Moms don’t know exactly
why Trans fat is now considered even more of a health risk that saturated
fat. This article is a complete informational resource for Moms interested in
guarding their family against Trans fat, and gives great ideas to live a
healthier, Trans fat-free life.
What is Trans Fat?
Trans fat is a fat that can be artificial or natural. Trace amounts of Trans fatty
acids can naturally be found in beef and dairy products. Artificial Trans fats
are made when hydrogen gas reacts with oil. The reason that artificial Trans
fats were added to foods was because it prolonged shelf life and flavor
stability, making manufacturers more cost effective
Why is it Unhealthy?
Besides having no nutritional value (the human body has no need for this
substance to survive, unlike carbohydrates, proteins, and other fats), Trans
fat is also scientifically proven to clog arteries and cause both obesity and
heart disease. At the University of Maryland, a recent study found that
children as young as 7, 8, and 9 had heart disease directly related to a diet
including moderate amounts of Trans fat. Trans fat raises bad cholesterol
but also goes a step further by lowering good cholesterol, a double-
whammy to the heart. Trans fat damages the liver as well. And Moms, listen
up, because Trans fats single-handedly double the risk of heart disease in
women and is known to cause infertility. By avoiding all foods with Trans
fats, Moms can significantly decrease their family’s risk of heart attack and
stroke.
How Much Trans Fat is Too Much?
Again, humans have no nutritional need for Trans fat, so any amount at all
does nothing but harm the body. Moms are shocked to know that a small
sized Kid’s Happy Meal with Cheeseburger and French Fries contains a
horrific 4.5 grams of Trans fat, along with a whopping 8 grams of saturated
fat. Together, this meal accounts for approximately 12.5 grams of artery-
clogging fat for Mom’s little eaters. And not to just pick on McDonalds,
because according to ACalorieCounter.com, five other fast food
establishments serve even higher levels of Trans fat in their foods. Many sit-
down family restaurants still fry their French fries and chicken fingers in the
same oil as fast food establishments, so spending a few more dollars still
exposes kids to this dangerous fat. In a nutshell, any Trans fat is too much!
What Foods Contain Trans Fat?
The most common supermarket foods containing Trans fat are shortenings,
margarine, crackers, chips, cookies, snack foods, cake, pies, candy bars,
breads, and microwave popcorn. As mentioned earlier, fast food is known to
include Trans fat in many of its dishes, as well as most family-favorite
restaurants. When looking over this list, it is obvious how often children are
exposed to this dangerous fat. Moms, write down the foods most likely to
contain Trans fat and bring it when grocery shopping for the family.
How Can Moms and Kids Avoid Trans fats?
Moms need to make a habit out of checking all labels of kid’s snack foods
before buying them, or better yet, just stop snacking on traditional snack
items full of sugary, processed, and fat-filled ingredients. Eating at home is
not only economical, but also much healthier as a general rule. Kids love to
get involved with food choices, so creating a game out of finding healthy
substitutes for unhealthy favorites is a great way to get kids excited about
eating healthy. Try substituting fried chicken tenders from a drive-thru for
grilled or charbroiled chicken breast strips served with many different
dipping choices. Moms can also replace crackers, chips, and cookies with
sweet, ripe summer fruits and veggies. And serving family-style meals on
large platters with lots of small-cut, healthy choices makes kids more open
to trying new items. Check out this month’s feature recipe for Summer
Tapas, a great family-style dinner that packs a ton of nutrition into lots of little
bites!
In a nutshell, while other dietary fats are good in small and moderate
amounts, Trans fat is by far in another category. Not only does it not serve a
nutritional purpose, it also causes heart disease, liver problems, obesity,
infertility, high cholesterol, and other diseases. Trans fat is also linked to
childhood heart disease, increasing a young person’s risk of heart attack
and stroke, as early as 7 years old. Many snack foods, fast foods, and sit-
down restaurant entrees include Trans fat, and any amount at all is
unhealthy. By making small steps to live a healthier life and eating more at
home, Moms can guard their children from this dangerous substance. Now
that Moms are armed with this knowledge, they can make better, healthier
decisions to feed a healthy family!