from American Heart Association Scientific Sessions
Campaigns against trans fats have been going
on for years, but the problem has not gone
away. Researchers at the University of
California San Diego told the American Heart
Association Scientific Sessions their study of
one thousand healthy workingâage men shows
those who consumed the most trans fats did
notably worse on a word memory test. Trans
fats are artificially produced to turn liquid oils
into solids at room temperature to extend the
shelf life of foods. Although the Food and
Drug Administration is taking steps to reduce
the amount of trans fats in our foods, they can
still be found in such products as margarines,
baked goods and coffee creamers. Lead
author Dr. Beatrice Golomb says she tells
patients that while trans fats increase the
shelf life of foods, they reduce the shelf life of
people by risking higher body weight and
heart disease.