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Companies Swapping Trans Fats for a Different, but Also Dangerous, Fat

When it comes to the increasing public awareness about the dangers of trans fats, there’s good news and there’s bad news. The good news: more and more cities are considering bans on toxic trans fats, and increasing numbers of food companies are taking these health-harming fats out of their products.

The bad news? Some of these companies may be trading one disaster for another. A study has found that a new method of modifying fat in commercial products to replace trans fats raises blood glucose and depresses insulin, both precursors to diabetes. Meanwhile, like trans fat, the new fat also lowers good “HDL” cholesterol.

The modified fat, called interesterified fat, is fast becoming the method of choice for food manufacturers to replace trans fats because it still allows for longer shelf lives in the foods. Interesterified fat is a modified fat that includes hydrogenation followed by rearrangements of fats molecules by the process called interesterification.

This process unnaturally rearranges the position of individual fatty acids on the fat molecule, and can alter metabolism in humans. In the study, unmodified saturated fat, which has unfairly gotten a bad rap all along, was not associated with negative effects.

If you want to avoid dangerous fats of all kinds, your best option is still to avoid processed foods, even those with no trans fats, and opt for healthy fat sources from whole foods, according to your nutritional type.

Nutrition & Metabolism January 15, 2007, 4:3 

Science Daily January 18, 2007 





 
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Comment on This Article Community Comments (20)
 
 
Posted On Jan 18, 2007

This is my opinion, when they feel they are getting too much pressure from society, they change. They want to show their alignment with us and that they care, but they do not. Just like with sugar, there was a push against it in the past. So it is eliminated from foods, but they camoflage it with any other sugar ending in -ose. Most Americans do not know that. The same goes for Hydrogenated fats. It is all an illusion!


 
Josh Rubin
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 6/2006
Josh Rubin  
 
 
 
Posted On Jan 20, 2007
Just this morning (01/20/2007) there were two AP articles in the Columbus Dispatch newspaper about trans fat substitutes.

The first article touted a school cafeteria in Plum Burrough district in suburban Pittsburgh that switched to this very same trans-fat replacement toxin, which is called Z Trim (interesterified fat). They just did it without any parental notification or input. The article was written as though the school administration had done something wonderful for it's students.

"This is a true plant fiber. It's something people have been eating. If anyone's had popcorn, the've had Z Trim," said Rick Harris, vice-president for sales and marketing for Fiber-Gel Technologies of Mundelein, Ill.  Z Trim is made from the hulls of corn, oats, soy, rice and barley.
(Now doesn't that sound wholesome?)

The second article was on the business page. It sang the praises of one Mark Israel, owner of a Seattle company called the Doughnut Plant. They supply coffee shops such as the so-called 'all-organic' Mighty-O Donuts shop, and Starbucks among others.  As a trans fat substitute they use palm fruit oil, and market the product as: "all-natural, organic, vegan doughnuts"…I kid you not.

It is one thing to make and sell junk foods, but it absolutely despicable to market  garbage as  healthy and nutritious food. It is becoming evermore dangerous to eat any food prepared outside of one's own kitchen.

 
enzo
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
enzo  
Replied

Rachel Lee
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
Rachel Lee  
 
Posted On Jan 20, 2007

Hi all! I'm from Malaysia. May I know whether these "Z Trim (interesterified fat)" can be found in my country? Thanks.



enzo
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
enzo  
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2007
Rachel Lee,

Z Trim (intersterified fat) is NOT a good thing. The manufacturer of it is trying to market it as a good thing, but it is not a healthy cooking oil. I am sorry if my comment was misleading for you. I was actually being sarcastic about Z Trim, because it is not good to eat, and should be avoided as much as trans fats.

If you are from Malaysia you should be able to obtain good organic coconut oil rather inexpensively, as it is made there. That would be your healthiest choice.

I wish you good health and happiness,

Enzo


Rachel Lee
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
Rachel Lee  
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2007

Actually in Malaysia, Palm oil is abundant, compare to coconut oil. There are a lot of brand of cooking oils, namely Knife, Eagle, Buruh and so forth are labelled as producing by palm olein oil.

Palm oil contains an equal proportion of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with about 44% palmitic acid, 5 % stearic acid; 40% oleic acid, 10% linolenic acid (both polyunsaturated).

For your information, most of the Malaysians choose palm olein oil in cooking. We seldom use coconut oil, because coconut oil contains large amount of saturated fat, greater than palm oil.

I realize that Z-Trim is not good, and for this reason, I would like to know whether this FATS are available in my country or not, so that I can avoid THEM in future. Thanks for sharing!!!!



enzo
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
enzo  
 
Posted On Jan 22, 2007
Rachel Lee,

Don't be afraid of the term 'saturated fat'. Saturated fats are digestible, and perfectly OK when part of a balanced whole food diet. Palm oil would not be my preferred choice.

Grape seed oil, if available in Malaysia, would be better than palm oil. Grape seed oil will withstand higher cooking temperatures than will palm oil.

Although more expensive, coconut oil is the best choice of cooking oils.


MacGyver
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 11/2006
MacGyver  
 
Posted On Feb 01, 2007
Nothing wrong with palm oil. It's profile is very similar to coconut oil and both are excellent for cooking. Both are healthy natural fats that have been consumed by the human population for thousands of years. (Donuts are another matter.)  Because they are 85 to 95% saturated fat, palm and coconut oils remain essentially undamaged at normal cooking temperatures. These two oils are the preferred choices for cooking. The unrefined versions of these oils contain antioxidants and enzymes beneficial to human metabolism. There is nothing inherently wrong with saturated fat, by the way. It's been vilified by an incomplete understanding of the true cause of cardiovascular disease. Factory farmed animals are fed corn, soy and other grains high in polyunsaturates. This makes the animal fat... just like it makes humans fat. These animals are also heavily medicated with antibiotics and growth hormones... which unfortunately concentrate in the animal's fat stores. Then we eat the hormone- and toxin-laced fat whereby those hormones and toxins are transferred to OUR fat. Badabing-Badaboom... we develop cardiovascular disease! So far, we haven't seen fit to medicate our palm trees - thank god - leaving the saturated fats from their fruits untainted. To learn more about GOOD saturated fats, visit this web site: http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyourfats/index.html


just the facts
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
just the facts  
 
Posted On Feb 03, 2007
You're wrong. Z Trim is not even in the fat category, so it obviously cannot be an interesterified fat.  You also called it an oil, which makes you wrong twice.

Rail against interesterified fats if you want to, government conspiracies, etc. but get your facts straight before you trash innovations that can contribute meaningfully to a healthier society.

I have worked closely with Z Trim, as have many other nutritionists, dietitians, food scientists and culinary professionals. Those who have actually taken the trouble to test it prior to judging and broadcasting their findings, agree that it has tremendous potential to change the way we eat for the better. If you think such a change is not needed, I invite you to review the nation's obesity stats (unless you think that's a conspiracy too).


enzo
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2006
enzo  
 
Posted On Feb 03, 2007

Response to vital votes member,  "just the facts" ---(Or is it "just the fats"?)
…(See JTF's two comments further down this page)


Ok JTF, I get it. You work closely with the makers of Z Trim. As such,  you have an obvious interest in the success of Z Trim. Did the company get word of the many  negative comments written here? And did they send you here for damage control? This is a web site for people interested in eating healthy, and Z Trim has no potential customers among us.

Fact: You can't grow Z Trim. It must be created in a high tech laboratory. Sorry, "JTF",  it is NOT food! What is the purpose of this new miracle toxin? Well, to make money of course. But let us not concern ourselves with simplistic reality. Lets pay a visit to Z Trim's own official web site to check out the Z Trim marketing scheme.

(Copied verbatim from ztrim.com):

"What makes Z Trim the right technology for today?

Obesity and its numerous related health issues have been a major problem for years and the problem continues to worsen. But many people are unwilling to diet or exercise in order to reduce their weight. Z Trim is the answer to this dilemma. It allows people who are overweight to continue to eat the foods they love while losing significant weight. It's a virtual miracle!"

(It continues):

"In addition, today the problem is being highly publicized. People are looking for an 'easy answer' and Z Trim is it. Recently, federal laws have been enacted mandating that schools and institutions address the problem of obesity, especially in children. Again, Z Trim is the answer."
        
 (It continues still):

"Industry Applications

Z Trim’s smooth texture and unique food formulation properties enable it to blend easily into most recipes, giving it a virtually endless amount of uses. And to make it even easier, Z Trim is available in both gel and powder form.

Use Z Trim in:
-Baked Goods: bread, cake, muffins, pizza crust, tortilla, pancakes, batters, and more
-Dairy Products: cream cheese, ice cream, yogurt, frozen novelties, cream, margarine, coffee, whitener, cheese powder, and more
-High Fat Foods: gravies, dips, salad dressings, peanut butter, and more
-Meats: sausages, frankfurters, burger patties, meatballs, marinades, and more
-Beverages: supplement to juice and non-carbonated beverages and drink powders-
-Confections: coated products and candies
-And more...: condiments, seasonings, soups, snacks and cereals, medical foods, MREs, and more

Z Trim is a natural food made of dietary fiber. There are, therefore, no chemical tastes or unpleasant digestive side effects."

Back to my (enzo) comments :

Can you believe that nonsense?

Read and reread Z Trim's own words. It is absolutely shameful! They created this "Frankenfood" so people who refuse to exercise and eat healthy nutritious real food can continue with their self-destructive lifestyles. Z Trim isn't out to end obesity, they just want to slow it down a tad. The good folks at Z Trim have come to realize that… "People are looking for an easy answer and Z Trim is it."  (Hell yeah! Might as well make a few bucks on all these lard asses!)

And check out that list of junk foods they recommend Z Trim be blended with. (Yum!) Highly refined sugar and refined carbohydrate processed crap! Even their list of "meats" is a joke---sausage, hot dogs, burgers, marinades. Give me a break!

So, JTF take your Z Trim  "facts" and eat them. Just don't try to push your unhealthy "non-oil miracle product" on innocent school children. Those kids should be eating whole organic real foods and nothing else. There is nothing wrong with fat if it comes from a natural whole food source. Becoming fit and healthy is not complicated. It is quite basic…No laboratory is necessary to grow or prepare food.  

You can parse words all you want about Z Trim not being technically not in the fat category. The fact remains it encourages the continuation of one's bad dietary habits.

Sorry JTF, but Z Trim is in league with the bad guys. You are adding to the problem…Z Trim is NOT the solution.


Enzo







 
 
 
Posted On Jan 21, 2007

Z-Trim is a licensed brand, developed from USDA, with your hard earned tax dollars for private profit. 

It's from the same folks who brought you FAILED Oat-Trim...pushing waist bi-products from Agri-Business. 

No doubt several genetically modified corn based chemistry kit fat replacers, that glow in the dark, are forthcoming from these failed rocket scientists, to a supermarket shelf near you soon, labeled as organic, natural, and Mother Teresa blessed.

The body count on FAKE and BAD FOR YOU fat substitutes is long, including but not limited to polydextrose (polyol bases and laxative inducing, it looks like, and is a plastic or polymer and no doubt cancer causing); plum pastes(formerly prune but lobbied to change it's name like rapeseed to canola did, and this stuff is full of fake starches and refined sugars, plus giving you the runs); dirreaha inducing and cancer causing alcohol distilled sweeteners; and oh yes, let's not forget olestra, or OLEAN brand (everyone's favorite anal leakage and loose stools labeled fat substitute, from the glycerol and mineral oil soap scientists at Proctor & Gamble).

Needless to say, if it does not exist in nature, there is a higher probability the 'stuff' Big Fat Substitue Food is hawking, will eventually come to bite you, or is that relieve you?, via the cancer ward, and your wallet, in the entrails. 


 
Russ Bianchi
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 9/2006
Russ Bianchi  
 
 
 
Posted On Jan 19, 2007
Seems like I read somewhere recently that trans-fats can be hidden in mono- and di-glycerides.  So even though the processed food lists no trans-fats, they can be in the food in the form of mono- or di-glycerides.  One more reason to avoid processed foods.

 
Bryan - oz4caster
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 6/2006
Bryan - oz4caster  
Replied

Badfats1
Novice User Novice User Joined On 3/2009
Badfats1  
 
Posted On Mar 22, 2009

That is absolutely correct!!!


 
 
 
Posted On Feb 01, 2007
I think that by genetically modifying our food,the processed food manufacturers are trying to genetically modify us by the means of altering our digestive system so that if we eat normal untampered food it will make us ill, whilst I do admit that my thoughts on this matter seem a little paranoid, people who are out to utilise the public for sake of the almighty $ have no scruples on how they make their profits.
genetically modified food = genetically modified people.
say no to Illuminati food.

awake from unconsiousness

 
Karl_annon
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 1/2007
Karl_annon  
Replied

bmc
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 2/2007
bmc  
 
Posted On Feb 01, 2007
Perhaps, they believe that there is good money to be made by making us sick .

 
 
 
 
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