|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 Promise
- Feb 2007THE MEDICAL TRUTH--ONE YEAR LATER, TRANS FATS ARE STILL DEADLY New medical information is available about our health—just about on a daily basis, in any newspaper, magazine, news show, or internet health site. It is quite the task to keep up with all that material, and even harder to sift out what, in fact, is accurate. If we truly listened to all of it, we would probably not put one bite of food in our mouths! Yesterday, fat was bad; today, carbohydrates are bad. We need hundreds of vitamins a day due to our “deficiencies”, or we don’t need them at all? We can’t cook with olive oil? What will be tomorrow’s news? Will it be something we listen to? It is an art to be able to recognize which information is good information. My best advice: check the source. Be sure that if you are receiving medical or health information, it is from a reliable source, such as a medical doctor (MD), and for nutrition information, the registered dietitian (RD), or nutritionist. There is one serious medical health issue at the moment, that is extremely accurate—and I need you to pay attention to my column for two minutes. Why? Because the trans fats, or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, are still hovering over us—one year later, with most consumers remaining ignorant about what this fat can do to their heart health. For some reason, we do not seem to be heeding the FDA’s advice that these dangerous oils can truly take years off of our lives. Newer studies even link infertility and obesity to these fats, which, after altered in a laboratory, are one of the most dangerous killers of our arteries today. The nutrition facts label required on all packaged foods must now list grams of trans fats, under Total Fat (grams). However, we must get serious about eliminating all of these products from our homes—even the ones that say “0 grams trans fat”, though still may contain the words “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils” in the ingredient list. And, to take it one critical step further, we need to tackle trans fats in our restaurant foods. Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are inexpensive, and have a very long shelf-life—meaning French fries and onion rings can be fried all day long in the same vat of oil. Didn’t think French fries might kill you one day, did you? The countries of Canada and Denmark have been trans fat free for several years. New York City, Boston and Chicago are the major cities in the United States which are challenging the restaurant industry. I have spearheaded the ban of trans fats in Miami area restaurants—and you should become vocal in your neighborhoods. To get yourself started, check out my website www.bantransfatinmiami.com. Educate yourself further, and make the decision to heed this most accurate, up-to-date, medical advice. My prediction is that if we are more informed and proactive, these trans fats could be gone within one year. Let’s move it! I will be writing my next column answering your questions. Address them to Ronni Litz Julien at ronnij@bellsouth.net Thanks! |
Ronni Litz Julien, Nutrionist, Author
The Trans Fat Free Kitchen, What Do I Feed The Kids?
Copyright © 2006-07, All Rights Reserved www.HealthfulKids.com
The Trans Fat Free Kitchen, What Do I Feed The Kids?
Copyright © 2006-07, All Rights Reserved www.HealthfulKids.com