Partially Hydrogenated What?!

I'm just going to tackle the biggie right off the bat.  Partially hydrogenated oils.  What a long word to descibe a type of fat.  So long in fact, its got a nickname, trans fat.  Much easier to say, if you ask me, but no better for your body!  Following, I will explain WHAT trans fats are and WHY they are bad for you. 

What are trans fats? 
Trans fat comes from adding hydrogen to vegetable oil through a process called hydrogenation. Trans fats are more solid than oil is, making them less likely to spoil. Using trans fats in the manufacturing of foods helps foods stay fresh longer, have a longer shelf life and have a less greasy feel (reference Mayo Clinic).  Now I don't know about you, but anything being less greasy sounds good to me.  Unfortunately, when it comes to trans fats, less greasy = less healthy....

What are the health risks? 
1-Coronary Artery Disease.  Coronary artery disease develops when your coronary arteries — the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients — become damaged or diseased. Cholesterol-containing deposits (plaques) on your arteries are usually to blame for coronary artery disease (reference Mayo Clinic).

2-Negative changes in your cholesterol.  Trans fat raises the LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowers the HDL (cholesterol). A study done in the New England Journal of Medicine found that on a per-calorie basis, trans fats appear to increase the risk of CHD more than any other macronutrient, conferring a substantially increased risk at low levels of consumption (reference Mayo Clinic).

3-Other possible health risks that are under scientific review include links to Alzheimers disease, cancer, type-2 diabetes, infertility, obesity, liver disfunction and depression (reference Mayo Clinic).

Who invented this stuff?  That honor goes to a German chemist named Wilhelm Normann.  He was able to partially hygrogenate oils in 1901 and patented the process in 1902, where he then built a fat hardening facility (that just doesn't sound right).  In 1909 he sold the patent rights to Proctor and Gamble who in turn began making and marketing the first hydrogenated shortening called Crisco (ever heard of it?!)  Further success came from the marketing technique of giving away free cookbooks in which every recipe called for Crisco (reference Wikipedia).  I gotta say, great marketing tool to give away free cookbooks calling for your ingredient in every recipe....

What products have trans fats in them?  Well, pretty much everything that can be boxed or bagged.  Chips, bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries, french fries, the list goes on and on.  If you are thinking, Crap!  I LOVE carbs and bread and cookies, I can't give that up, have no fear, the Additive Free Foodie is here!  That's where this blog will come along side you, sharing recipes, food swaps and other tips to help you.  I will be sharing LOTS of substitution ideas, mostly mainstream stuff you can find at any grocrey store, even *gasp* Wal-Mart.  I promise you, there is a substitution for everything! 

Finally, I know it may sound overwhelming for those of you who have never thought about eliminating this from your diet, but with so many people choosing to go trans-fat free these days, you really can make it work, on a budget, with young kids at home!

The Foodie is IN!

Hello everyone!  I am so excited to be starting a new blog that will be all about consuming foods that are minimally processed and are free from trans fats (partially hydrogenated oils), HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), MSG (monosodium glutamate) and other additives.

I have so many different ideas I plan to share with my followers, which will include, sharing recipes, reviewing all-natural foods, talking about additives and why they aren't good for us, as well as giving alternatives for your favorite food items that may not be the healthiest.  Trust me, I have the biggest sweet tooth out there and I promise you that I CAN find you your favorite treat in a more 'healthy' format!  Please know that the information I share about these kinds of foods is public knowledge and will be interlaced with my own opinions, which I have plenty of!  But, for the record,  I am NOT a nutritionist, dietician, doctor, health expert, or food scientist (although I am pretty sure my kids think I am!)

I look forward to sharing a passion of mine with you all.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, are looking for a food swap-out or want to know more about eating preservative free!

-Melanie