Aunt Li pays special attention to health preservation, and she has to flip through health information every day, for fear of missing something. Recently, she saw that the hot search said that many edible oils have trans fatty acids in them, which is particularly bad for the body.
Aunt Li panicked when she saw it, and hurriedly checked the food at home. As a result, the ingredient list of edible oil and snacks reads "hydrogenated vegetable oil".
She was afraid in her heart, the elderly and children in the family eat every day, thinking that this is not taking poison every day?
So, she packed up all the condiments at home to see which one still had trans fatty acids, and threw them all away.
Her daughter-in-law Xiaoli saw this scene and said to her: "Mom, what they say is so terrible, don't be busy, it's really fine." ”
"Eh, you don't care, this is definitely not groundless, besides, Xiaobao is still young, how can he eat these every day."
Xiaoli saw that she couldn't resist her mother-in-law, so she didn't say anything anymore, but when she saw the barrels of oil being poured, she still felt a pity in her heart.
Is Aunt Li's approach superfluous or necessary? What should we do in our daily lives to eat safely and healthily?
01
Trans fatty acids are often referred to as "deadly substances", but is this term an exaggeration?
In fact, trans fatty acids are not alien in nature, even in breast milk.
Breast milk, as one of the main foods for infants, has been attracting attention for its rich nutrients.
Interestingly, the trans fat content of breast milk cannot be ignored, with studies showing that the trans fat content in breast milk accounts for between 1% and 10% of the fat content of breast milk.
This discovery subverts some people's monolithic understanding of trans fats, and calls for a more rational view of their existence and impact.
02
Trans fatty acid is an unsaturated fatty acid, which is structurally different from saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, showing a unique configuration.
Many people mistakenly believe that trans fatty acids are only found in industrial foods, but in fact, they are also found in natural foods.
For example, ruminant milk and related products contain trans fatty acids, and even human breast milk contains a certain percentage of trans fatty acids.
These findings suggest that trans fatty acids do not come from a single source, but are a fat component that is ubiquitous in nature.
03
Although trans fatty acids exist in nature, their health effects are highly debated.
Studies have shown that consuming too much trans fats significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, including arteriosclerosis and heart attack.
This kind of harm makes people have to pay attention to it, especially in modern society, cardiovascular disease has become one of the main factors affecting people's health.
04
01Trans fatty acids in food processing
During food processing, some products may be added with ingredients such as hydrogenated vegetable oil, margarine, etc., which contain higher amounts of trans fatty acids.
However, with the advancement of science and technology, the food industry has been able to better control the content of trans fatty acids in food, and even achieve "zero trans fat" products.
The national standard requires that if the food contains or uses hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils and fats, it must be marked in the ingredient list, and the trans fatty acid content must be indicated in the nutrition facts list.
Therefore, consumers can carefully read product labels and choose products with low or "0" trans fatty acid content to protect their health.
02Pay attention to the temperature and amount of vegetable oil used in cooking
In addition to trans fatty acids that may be added in food processing, vegetable oils from cooking are also a great source of trans fatty acids.
When the oil temperature is too high, trans fatty acids may be produced in various vegetable oils, which needs our attention.
Therefore, it is particularly important to control the temperature and amount of cooking oil in daily cooking.
Experts suggest that under the premise that the oil does not smoke, the method of rapid stir-frying, or the method of "water and oil stewing", can reduce the production of trans fatty acids in vegetable oil. This practice of adjusting the way you cook can help reduce the potential health hazards of trans fats.
03Healthy eating habits
In order to reduce the intake of trans fats, we can do this by adjusting our diet.
Reducing the intake of fried foods and increasing the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is an important step to maintain a healthy diet.
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins and other nutrients, which can help us maintain good health and reduce the risk of disease.
In daily life, we should try to choose fresh and healthy ingredients and establish a scientific and reasonable diet.
Aunt Li's concern is not unreasonable, but this kind of reaction is not necessary, for trans fatty acids, we need to rationally understand its impact and take effective measures to reduce intake, so that we can enjoy a healthy and happy life.