Tuesday, October 28, 2003

Dangerous fats lurk in seemingly healthy snacksThe Globe and Mail, October 23, 2003

"Mornings often seem like the most hectic part of the day for Maureen deBarra, as she rushes to get her three daughters off to school."There are a million things to do," the 39-year-old Toronto mother said . So, to save time, she has relied on a lot of prepackaged foods for her kids' lunches.......But, as it turns out, a lot of prepared foods -- including granola bars, microwave popcorn, crackers and cookies -- are loaded with unhealthy, artificially altered fats called trans fatty acids. Also known as hydrogenated vegetable oil, trans fats make pastries flaky and cookies fresh tasting -- yet they can be extremely bad for your health... a growing body of medical evidence indicates that trans fats can clog arteries and lead to premature heart disease -- just like saturated fats from meat and dairy products....However, what has some researchers really worried are the long-term consequences of a generation raised on trans fats. It's even getting into breast milk through mothers' diets...." [I'm not sure what's more disturbing, a mom who packs chocolate bars and chips in her kids' lunches, or the idea that trans fats are in breastmilk - JC]

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