Career Insights

The Truth About Trans Fats

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

Share:
Updated September 15, 2015. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Trans fats

There's been a lot of information in the media lately regarding trans fats. The Food and Drug Administration has even stated that manufacturers will no longer be able to add trans fats to their food by 2018. But is something so drastic really necessary? The following information details exactly what trans fats are, how they affect our health and if they're really as bad as we're being led to believe.

 

WHAT ARE TRANS FATS?

 

Trans fats, which are also called trans-fatty acids, are considered by some doctors to be the worst type of fat to eat. According to the Mayo Clinic, trans fats not only raise your bad cholesterol (LDL), but they actually lower your good cholesterol (HDL). The American Heart Association states that there are generally two different types of trans fats in the food we eat. There are those that occur naturally and are found in some meat and milk, and those that are artificial and easily found in processed foods.

These artificial fats are known as partially hydrogenated oils. Foods such as processed biscuits, chips, pie crusts, cakes, and microwave popcorn are high in trans fats. Foods that require deep frying often have high levels of trans fats as well.

Learning about trans fats and how they affect our bodies is an integral part of several health-related careers, including nursing. Concorde Career College provides several allied health and nursing programs that teach students the facts about healthy living and eating right.

 

HOW DO TRANS FATS AFFECT OUR HEALTH?

 

According to Popular Science, manufacturers use trans fats because they are cheap and increase a food's shelf life. They are, however, harder for the body to break down. Because of the chemical structure in trans fats, they are difficult for your body to metabolize. Since they can increase bad cholesterol, this can lead to heart disease. Trans fats have also been associated with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

 

SHOULD WE TOTALLY ELIMINATE TRANS FATS?

 

There are three types of fats that we consume: unsaturated fats, saturated fats, and trans fats. Unsaturated fats are considered healthy and our bodies need a certain amount of these types of fat. Saturated fats are considered unhealthy, but not to the extent of trans fats. Like many things we eat, if trans fats are eaten in very limited amounts they are probably not a health concern for most people.

If your diet is built of foods mainly high in trans fat, you may run a higher risk of heart problems, stroke, and diabetes. The Food and Drug Administration is paying attention; it has determined that these types of fats should be phased out of our food sources completely.

Learn the skills that can help you become an advocate for healthy living. Contact Concorde Career College and we’ll get you started on the right career today.

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.