The continuous talk and threat of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes has made people more averse with fat. But fat is not created equal, based on a new study.
When it comes to saturated and trans fat, one of them is the bad boy. In one of the comprehensive studies conducted by different universities and institutions in Canada, trans fat significantly increases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes among healthy people. In contrast, saturated fat doesn't seem to pose the same problem.
By looking into the health data of more than 250,000 people across 20 observational health studies, the researchers discovered that eating food that contains or is high in trans fat may develop cardiovascular disease by as high as 21%. The risk of dying from the condition is 28%. Trans fat is also responsible for almost 35% possibility of overall mortality.
There's a caveat, though. Since the studies have all been observational, many external factors could have affected the outcome. Further, just because there's no direct proof against saturated fat doesn't have to mean consuming it excessively is good for the body.
Needless to say, trans fat has always been the more evil between the two, so much so that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called on the complete removal of trans fat from food.
Trans fat is industrially produced. Made of hydrogenated oils, this component is meant to enhance the flavor and increase the shelf life of food products in the market. Before, the FDA has simply mandated producers and marketers to include the percentage of trans fat in their nutrition label.
Saturated fat, meanwhile, is derived from the animals. These include butter, salmon, and eggs. According to the recommended dietary guidelines, this type of fat should compose no more than 10% of a person's daily meal.