What Is Trans Fat?

Trans fat is made when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable oil (hydrogenation). They do this to increase shelf life and flavor.

Trans fat can be found in vegetable shortenings, margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods, and other foods made with or fried in partially hydrogenated oils. Check the "Nutrition Facts" label on any food that you buy to look for sources of fat.

Trans fat, like saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, raises the LDL cholesterol(bad cholesterol) that increases your risk for coronary heart disease. Americans consume on average 4 to 5 times as much saturated fat as trans fat in their diets.

Moral to this story? Eat as much unsaturated fat as you can. You need fat (about 20% of daily calories) in your diet.