Trans Fat Ban Does Not Replace Need For Healthy Eating Choices
July 01, 2008
While the city’s trans fat ban in restaurants will aid diners’ heart health, overall benefits can only come with changed eating habits. NY1’s Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report.
Most health experts agree that the city’s ban of trans fats from New York City's menus is beneficial, because trans fats are the most detrimental to health. Trans fat increases risk of heart disease by raising bad cholesterol, or LDL, and lowering good cholesterol, known as HDL.
“Eliminating trans fat or reducing them will lower LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, and may have other cardiovascular benefits in terms of inflammation and insulin resistance,” said Dr. Judy Wylie-Rosett of the American Heart Association. “Those are things that [are found in] people developing heart disease.”
Experts also agree that reducing trans fat 0.5 grams per serving in restaurants and other does not make the food healthy. Restaurant diners must still regard the size of their portions.
“Trans fats only affects the ability to clog the arteries in our body. However, calories and fat in general makes us gain weight, and also promote diabetes and hypertension, different long term chronic diseases,” said Angela Kurtz, RD of the NYU Langone Medical Center. “We still have to be very conscientious about food portion and types of foods that we are ordering and try to eat healthy -- including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and dairy products.”
Diners also need to watch out for what substitutes restaurants are using in place of trans fats. Some have switched to using palm oil and coconut oil -- extremely saturated fats that are also very unhealthy.
The best choices are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats -- like soy, canola, corn, sunflower and olive oils. These oils actually may help to lower total cholesterol.
No matter what legislation is enacted, healthy eating choices can best promote a healthy lifestyle.
- Kafi Drexel
July 01, 2008
Trans Fat Ban Does Not Replace Need For Healthy Eating Choices
Kafi Drexel Kafi Drexel covers Health & Fitness for NY1 News.
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