The number one killer of Americans is heart disease. Yesterday the American Medical Association adopted a policy which supports legislation banning artificial trans fats from restaurants and bakeries across the United States. "Trans fats have been proven to raise LDL, the bad cholesterol, while lowering HDL, the good cholesterol, which significantly increases the risk for heart disease," stated Mary Anne McCaffree, MD, AMA board member. Continuing, "By supporting a ban on the use of artificial trans fats in restaurants and bakeries, we can help improve the quality of the food Americans eat and may ultimately save lives."

Trans fats are detrimental to human health, but other fats, such as monounsaturated fats, are not. Sources of good fats can be found in olive oil, fish oil, flax seed, olives, and avocado. Dr. McCaffree says that if we replaced artificial trans fats with healthier alternatives, premature deaths numbering 30,000 to 100,000 could be prevented yearly. This fact was recognized in 1994. Trans fats have also been linked with the rising risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's, and infertility.

The hydrogenation of oils, creating trans fats, began in the early 1900s, and was first commercialized by Crisco.  The process gives oils an extended shelf-life--a boon to food manufacturers.  Today, trans fats must be listed on a food's package. Look for the words:

• partially hydrogenated oils
• fractionated oils
• shortening
• lard
• hydrogenation

In July, 2008, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation banning trans fats from restaurant food. His state is the first to do so. The AMA's policy would take this another step forward, banning trans fats from bakeries and restaurants in every state.

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