Why you should avoid hydrogenated fats

I previously wrote about vegetable oils. I mentioned how “heart-healthy” vegetable oils like canola, soy, safflower and sunflower are rancid and unfit for human consumption. Unlike other foods (coconut, olives, avocado) they cannot be cold pressed to extract oils. The oils must be chemically removed, and refined at high temperatures. They are then deodorized to remove the rancid smell and sold as “heart healthy” oils. The idea that these are heart-healthy alternatives to foods like butter, coconut oil or avocados is ridiculous and responsible for the dramatic increase of cardiovascular disease over the past century.As bad as these oils are, there is a way to make them worse. You simply hydrogenate it.The hydrogenation process involves heating already rancid vegetable oils to temperatures between five hundred and one thousand degrees (F) under several atmospheres of pressure. Then a catalyst, typically in the form of a metal is injected for several hours changing the molecular structure, turning a liquid into a solid substance with a molecular structure not too different from plastic. Yes plastic. This is a trans fat.Not only does it have a structure close to plastic, making it difficult to break down in the body, it also contains heavy metals from the catalyst, and is damaging to the our cells structure. Our cell membranes maintain the perfect balance of stability and fluidity, though consuming natural fats.  It's when we ingest man-made or altered fats that our cells react negatively and we can experience some serious problems including heart disease, blood pressure issues and cancer.The good thing about hydrogenated (trans) fat is that it is easy to avoid. Unlike other chemical additives or sweeteners such as MSG or Aspartame, they are not hidden under any fancy names. They are simply called hydrogenated oil or partially hydrogenated oil.These are some of the foods that contain hydrogenated fats.

• Peanut butter- if your peanut butter is solid, thats a sign that it was hydrogenated.
• Margarine and butter replacements like "I cant believe its not butter"
• Baked goods - pre-packed cookies, cakes, and desserts
• Chips & Crackers
• Fast-food
• Vegetable Shortening
• Store- bought meals

Cutting hydrogenated oils from your diet is necessary if you are serious about avoiding blood pressure and heart disease issues, so please avoid at all costs!