Trans fatty acids, also known as trans fats or trans fatty acids, are a type of unsaturated artificial vegetable oil. Common artificial cream and margarine in daily life belong to trans fatty acids. The "hydrogenation" process of manufacturing trans fatty acids can prevent molecules from being oxidized, turn liquid oil into semi-solid oil suitable for special purposes, and extend the shelf life. According to health experts, foods that people often eat, such as biscuits, crackers, shortbread, chocolate, salad dressing, french fries, doughnuts, cream cakes, large pancakes, potato chips, and fried instant noodles, all contain varying amounts of trans fatty acids.
Trans fatty acids have seven major effects on human health
The content of trans fatty acids in natural foods is almost zero, and they are difficult for the human body to accept and digest, easily leading to multiple physiological dysfunctions. It is a food additive completely created by humans. In fact, it is also a "killer" of human health.
1. Reduced memory. Research suggests that young and middle-aged people with poor eating habits are more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease (senile dementia) in old age. Trans fatty acids inhibit a type of cholesterol that can promote human memory.
2. Easy to gain weight. Trans fatty acids are not easily digested by the human body and tend to accumulate in the abdomen, leading to obesity. People who like snacks such as french fries should be vigilant, as the trans fatty acids in fried foods can cause significant fat accumulation.
3. Easy to trigger coronary heart disease. According to the latest research results from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, trans fatty acids can reduce the content of cholesterol that effectively prevents heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases.
4. Easy to form blood clots. Trans fatty acids increase the viscosity and cohesiveness of human blood, easily leading to the formation of blood clots. For the elderly with fragile blood vessel walls, the harm is especially serious.
5. Women during pregnancy or lactation who consume too much food containing trans fatty acids will affect the health of the fetus. Studies have found that fetuses or infants can passively ingest trans fatty acids through the placenta or breast milk. They are more susceptible to essential fatty acid deficiency than adults, affecting their growth and development.
6. Affects male fertility. Trans fatty acids reduce the secretion of male hormones and have a negative impact on the activity of sperm, interrupting the reaction process of sperm in the body.
7. Affects the absorption of essential fatty acids in adolescents during their growth and development period. Trans fatty acids also have adverse effects on the growth and development of the adolescent central nervous system.