Trans-fats content oils are mostly purchased by restaurant owners because it can be easily used to fry food without changing the oil, moreover it can be used even after heating it numerous times. Trans-fat have minimal health benefits and are increases the risk of heart diseases. They are good to taste but as compared to other macro nutrient it is considered to be more dangerous. According to few studies, it is proved that other than heart diseases trans-fat also causes the risk of diabetes and some kind of cancers. Through, through further studies it is found that Alzheimer’s disease, liver dysfunction, infertility and obesity are also the effects of trans-fats.
Recognizing trans-fats is also important before consuming any food specially, if its processed because they are mostly found in varieties that you have never thought earlier. Among pure vegetable oils, it is best to buy and use canola, olive, peanut, sunflower and corn oils.
However, for consumer awareness many food manufacturers and fast-food chains are reducing trans-fats and also trying to remove it completely but it is necessary to avoid certain foods that still contain trans fats. Before maintaining any diet, it is better to recognize and strictly avoid these products.
The worst foods that contain trans-fats
1. French fries
French fries contains roughly 14.5 grams of trans-fat which is made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil. It is found mostly in restaurants but recently, many restaurants are reducing the practice of frying food in hydrogenated oils specifically in McDonald, Wendy’s, Diary Queen and Burger King. However, there are other restaurants which are still taking more time to adapt this practice.
2. Fried or battered foods
It is difficult to find any nutrition value in fried or battered food so it is better to avoid. Moreover, these foods are very tasty to eat but not good for health because it can be easily assumed that the oil they use in restaurants are hydrogenated and are loaded with trans-fats. Though, the restaurant owners will tell you that they only use vegetable oil. So start switching to fruits and vegetables, specially those people who are habituated to these kind of foods.
3. Pie and Piecrust
Baked products like pie and piecrust are injurious to health. These baked foods are loaded with trans fat but most of the popular restaurant chains have removed hydrogenated oils from their apple pies. These trans fat varieties are still available in few grocery stores like cherry fruit pies and drake apple. It is also found that Pillsbury’s deep-dish all-vegetable piecrust is loaded with 1.5 grams of trans-fat per serving.
4. Margarine
Margarine is loaded with trans-fats which leads to heart problems. It is introduced in the market as an alternative for butter and it is made from vegetable oil instead of dairy or animal products. In case of stick margarine, it is made with hydrogenated oils which are high in trans fat and saturated fat to make a solid form specially meant for this variety. It contains around 2.8 grams of trans-fat per tablespoon. So, it is better to choose for other spreads.
5. Shortening
Crisco is popular for trans-fat but you may find in the ingredients that less amount like 0.49 gram of trans-fat is loaded or it might be labelled as zero percentage of trans-fats. Remember, this small amount will slowly increase by consuming a lot, like baking and eating the cookies which come out of the oven. and will finally, injure your health.
6. Cake mixes and frostings
You may check the label of cake or muffin mix and find it trans-fat free along with that you will see the telltale word, shortening on many ingredients lists so it means that traces of these fats are present. In the market you can find Dunkin Hines’s frosting’s contains 1.5 grams per serving and Betty Crocker’s contain up to 2 grams.
7. Waffles and pancakes
At times, waffle and pancake mixes contain trans-fat like Bisquick’s original pancake mix is heavy with 1.5 grams trans-fat per serving so it is better to have trans fat free such as Bisquick Complete, Gluten-Free, or Heart Smart.
8. Fried chicken
Frozen fried chicken like Banquet and Walmart brands are trans-fat-free but you may still find in others a gram of trans-fat each. Frozen foods is a quick option to food preparation but there is a high content of trans fats. So, next time in restaurants you can ask that how they fry their food in order to verify whether they use trans fats or vegetable oil.
9. Ice cream
Pineapple-coconut, cherry-vanilla, caramel cone, green tea, and only vanilla ice cream flavors contains 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving but you may not find it in the ingredients list.
In ice creams, trans-fats are naturally formed in fat-containing dairy products but these trans- fats are not so injurious as the ones formed through hydrogenation of oils and may have some health benefits according to the expert. However, they are high in calories so keep a measure in your intake.
10. Nondairy creamers
Too much coffee is not good for health specially for those who take coffee every day because it adds a considerable amount of trans-fat to your diet. So try to look for coffee-mate products, like per serving contains zero grams trans-fat, mostly for flavors which partially include hydrogenated oils and are the third ingredient listed, after water and sugar.
11. Flavored popcorn
Popcorn is considered as a healthy snack which is equal to a serving of whole grains. Microwave popcorn are available in market with certain added toppings which makes it more tasty but harmful too. Like, the flavor of butter contains 0.5 grams of trans-fat per serving and the caramel-corn flavor contains 1.5 grams.
12. Ground beef
Like other diary products, beef also contains natural trans-fat. Though, the big chains are trying hard to remove hydrogenated oils but many restaurant offers burgers including few levels of trans fat. Trans-fat is found in ground beef and beef hot dogs.
13. Cookies
Cookies contain partially hydrogenated oils like Carr’s ginger-lemon creme cookies which is loaded with 2 grams of trans-fat per serving and Pillsbury’s ready-to-bake sugar cookies carries 2.5 grams of trans-fat per serving. So, foods that are often kept at shelves are also made with hydrogenated oils.
14. Biscuits and sweet rolls
Burger King, McDonald’s, and Popeye are few, big chains that are offering biscuits with 0 grams of trans-fat per serving but some Krispy Kreme’s cinnamon and pecan rolls still carry 1 gram each. Not only this, few other varieties that show 0 grams may contain hydrogenated oil.
15. Breakfast sandwiches
Breakfast sandwiches offered on biscuits or croissants like Burger King’s, contain 1 gram of trans-fat and sandwiches available in the grocery store are loaded with 3 grams of trans-fat each.
16. Frozen or creamy beverage
Many beverage products contain almost a whopping of 9 grams of trans-fat. Similarly, other restaurant creamy drinks and frozen shakes contain a gram or more, including hot chocolate beverages. You can also find it in the blend of soft-serve ice cream and cookie dough mixing.
17. Beef jerky
Dried beef contain trans-fat, try to consume more fruit or raw vegetables or you can also have protein from nuts, heart-healthy fish, poultry, lentils and soybeans.
18. Crackers
Crackers are loaded with trans-fats even if you eat a small amount, it will turn dangerous. Before buying crackers it is important to check the ingredients list so, search crackers that avoid hydrogenated oi
ls like Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies or Stacy’s Pita Chips.
19. Frozen dinners
Frozen dinners are easy and fast to cook, moreover it is preferred by many people like the grilled chicken bake and fettuccini alfredo dinners which are possibly loaded per servings with 0.5 grams of trans-fat.
20. Asian noodles
It is surprising to know that canned soup and instant noodles which are preferably easy to make but contain a high level of trans-fats, almost like 1.5 grams of trans-fat per half cup serving.
21. Canned chili
Numerous varieties of canned chili carries 1 to1.5 grams of trans-fat per serving with or without beans. Try to reduce and change the habit of having too many canned products.
22. Packaged pudding
Packaged pudding like Snack Pack’s Caramel Cream Pudding is not a healthy food at all as the caramel cream flavor contains 1 gram of trans-fat and also saturated fat. Before buying these products, it is necessary to check the ingredients labels on the package and also the percentage of grams per serving.