When can zero be too much? When it comes to trans fats. Excess consumption of trans fats is linked to high LDL (bad) cholesterol and a high risk of heart disease. The Nutrition Facts panel on food labels now contains the trans fat content of the food in grams. You should look for foods that contain little to no trans fat–as well as low levels of saturated fat, which is also linked to heart disease. But did you know that a food that is labeled as containing 0 grams of trans fat may actually contain up to 0.49 grams? It’s one of example of how food labels can be confusing and, at times, misleading.
You can read more about food labels and trans fats in my Health & Fitness column in the Aiken Standard.
You can learn more about the Nutrition Facts panel and deciphering food labels here.
Dr Parr Says... 