FDA Bans Artificial Trans Fats by 2018

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that artificial trans fats are no longer Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and is requiring that they be phased out of the food supply by 2018.

While trans fat does occur naturally in some meat and dairy products, many processed foods, such as crackers, coffee creamer and margarine, contain artificial trans fats. Artificial trans fats are created in partially hydrogenated oils (PHO)s, which are oils that have been infused with hydrogen. This process keeps the oils solid at room temperature, and is used to maintain flavor and increase the shelf life of processed foods. Intake of trans fat has been shown to cause various health problems, including high cholesterol and coronary heart disease.

New Guidelines—Cholesterol Is Not So Bad

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Presented by TP Mechanical | Provided by HORAN

Tablet with the chemical formula of cholesterol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the last several decades, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, provided by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), have warned against over consumption of cholesterol. Dietary recommendations suggested that adults consume no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day (to put that into perspective, one egg yolk contains 186 milligrams of cholesterol).

However, after its review of current scientific evidence regarding nutrition, diet and health, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee has removed the strict warnings on cholesterol intake. You can now eat your egg yolks guilt-free.

Although recommendations for cholesterol have eased, the new dietary guidelines target salt, sugar and saturated fat with suggestions for strictly limited intake.