Okay, I'm going out on a limb to get the word out. If I didn't care about you all I wouldn't bother. But since I do care, I'm here to warn you all about this silent killer.
Recently, my mother was rushed to the ER with chest pains. After angioplasty (sp) and a few stints, she has been given the chance to return home to spend Christmas with me and my siblings.
Being that my brother is an ER doctor, he is of course aware of many societal health issues. One that he brought to my attention (and that he was particularly alarmed about) is the complacent acceptance of trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) in our society.
After our discussion, I did as he suggested, and googled the subject. I was stunned at what I found.
With this new awareness, I deciding that I would remove this "poison" from my household. I went through our cupboards/pantry, and found that it is in most everything I had in stock. I immediately removed the products from my shelves and went shopping for replacements.
While at the local grocery store, I was shocked to find that this junk is in just about everything.
It's time to send a message to food manufacturers and FDA officials, that we wont take it. Boycott this killer product. Force food processing companies to do the right thing and remove this product. If the label says hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated, DON'T BUY IT!
I understand that removing this product lends it difficult for manufacturers to make their products economically, but if something is not done soon, we and our families are the ones to suffer the consequences. The food processing companies will continue to profit on our bad health, much like tobacco industries did back in the day.
This is not a naturally occurring substance. It is an altered product that our bodies don't know what to do with, as we haven't evovled over the centuries with it in our diet, so it just stays in our bodies and plays havoc.
Other countries in Europe and Canada are in the process of banning it from their food supplies. What's taking The US so long in acting and doing the right thing? Here's a clue, big buisiness and money.
Only public outcry will make the differences. Don't take it anymore.

I hate to sound like chicken little, but this is something I just can't sit back and watch happen. Please take the time to be informed. Google partially hydronated oils, or trans fats. You will see what I am concerned about.

Good luck, T

 

Here's a start.
http://www.bantransfats.com/

 

I have been living/using NON-Hydrogenated foods for years now.

 

Good for you Dennis. I have heard that Canada is in the process of banning it completely. I was also told that the US only sends food products over seas that meet the stricter requirements of the receiving nations. This to include the use of trans fats. They usually only sell this junk to Americans.
What the heck?

 

I know Calgary is in the midst of banning trans-fats.

I learned lots about what happens in the metabolic systems when I discovered I had Fibromyalgia and arthritis back in 1991.

Most of all my eating habits changed then.

 

It's a shame that most of us need to become ill, or have someone close to us fall ill before we do the research to understand what exactly we are putting in our bodies. I heard of trans fats quite a bit lately, but was unalarmed by the news. Mostly out of ignorance, and partly out of laziness. Now, after reading up on it, I just can't believe that our FDA allows this stuff to flood the market.

BTW, on that web site that I posted up, you need to punch the tabs on the left side. The whole story is there. Also, as I suggested earlier, do a google. You'll get quite a bit of info. To anyone who is interested.

 

Is there someplace to go for basic listings of food products?

 

I am not aware of anything like that, but knowing the internet, there probably is. If not, there should be.

 

My only issue with this..

IT is not the gov'ts job to legislate this, it is our job as consumers to show them our decisions.

I am fully against the gov legislating what I can and cannot eat. What I put in my mouth is MY choice.

As for the monetary reason, in no way should the public be paying for my health care in the event I do something stupid. A T A L L. that is IT.

 

I agree 100%...we were with family friends from B.C. this summer. Their health care stories, ...er rather nightmares, makes you very, very, scared of government run health care!...not to metion the increase in taxes.

 

I'd like to raise awareness, but banning trans fat is not right.

It's like smoking. It will kill you. That's all. However I think that people should be able to make that decision for themselves.

It really irks me when something bad happens to someone over some product and they want it banned, like they know what's best for me and even if I still want to do it, they want to take that away from me.

Trans fats are often found in processed foods as was already mentioned. It's pretty well known that processed foods for the most part aren't good for you.
The solution is to go out and buy raw ingredients and actually cook yourself something. Drink water, exercise, reduce your intake of processed foods. That is how you stay healthy, not by banning stuff.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but it's time that people start holding themselves responsible for themselves and not asking big brother to watch out for us.

Mike

 

No, Mike I agree, but we live in a "sue" happy society that feels they are entitled to more than what they provide themselves. We all like to blame someone else for our "lazieness, mistakes, or lack of better judgement"...myself included.

 

If you want to know what's good to eat, google "Glycemic load chart" and "Glycemic Index Chart" and check out the benefits of a high fiber diet. http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs01.htm

There are foods that you can literally eat until you're stuffed and not gain and probably lose weight.

Broccoli, carrots, cabbage, oatmeal, asparagus, spinach, green beans and tomatoes are some of the foods that you can eat until you're stuffed and not gain any weight. Pumpernickel rye is one of the best breads on the glycemic charts.

The reason is, a lot of the carbohydrates are not digestible and simply pass through but still fill you up; the other benefit of these foods is that the carbs that are absorbed, are complex and absorbes slowly. For instance, a whole head of cabbage AND a pound of Broccoli combined has about 350 calories.

If you're trying to lose weight potatoes and white bread are your worst enemy.

 

No don't need to loose weight and as far as matabolic processes and chemiosynthesis as to digestion and what not I have that down pat. We call stuff like that "free" food as you mentioned; although tomaotes contain a lot of sugar and don't fall into my "free" food definition, but I like to eat them anyways.

 

Canada has a "Canadian Food Guide"

just google those words