Trans-fats in the Diet
Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat, meaning that they can be either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated. They are also known as fatty acids which consist of a chain of carbons with a carboxyl group at one end. As they are an unsaturated fat, this mean that they are not single bonded unlike saturated fats which are not as bad for your health. Having more than one bond means that these bonds expand further out and therefore can more easily clog arteries and cause health problems such as heart disease. For these reasons, it is recommended that trans fats are reduced in one’s diet as they are neither required or beneficial towards health. With the hydrogenation of plant oils, trans fats can also be industrially created as a side effect due to this. This changed fat becomes a trans fat as the partial hydrogenation alters the fat’s molecular structure which raises its melting point and reduces its rancidity. All of these factors contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle if consumed which can lead to lots of complications in the health of the body. (Willet, 2014)
-triglyceride (fat) consists of 3 fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule.
-triglyceride (fat) consists of 3 fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule.