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Choose healthy fats, limit saturated fat, and avoid trans fat.\n\nThe total amount of fat you eat, whether high or low, isn't really linked with disease. What really matters is the type of fat you eat.\n

Are you worried you are getting heavier day by day? Well, it might be because of those fries you are addicted to. Deep fried foods are rich in trans fats which are directly related to obesity and heart failure. Trans fats build up the blood vessels, hindering the smooth flow of blood through them.

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10 -- Gram for gram, trans fatty acid from milk and meat may be as bad for the heart as it is from processed foods, Dutch researchers found. In a randomized trial, a diet containing a high quantity of trans fats significantly increased cholesterol levels across the board whether from natural or "industrial" sources (P=0.014 to P<0.001), Ingeborg A. Brouwer, Ph.D., of VU University Amsterdam, and colleagues reported here at the American Heart Association meeting.

MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations. Preformulated MEDLINE searches are included in MedlinePlus and give easy access to medical journal articles. MedlinePlus also has extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials, and latest health news. Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. Nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Learning to eat nutritiously is not hard. The key is to Eat a variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products Eat lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and low-fat dairy products Drink lots of water Go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol, saturated fat and trans fat

Cardiovascular disease risk of dietary stearic acid compared with trans, other saturated, and unsaturated fatty acids: a systematic review1,3. Hunter JE, Zhang J, Kris-Etherton PM. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19939984 doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27661 Conclusions: TFA intake should be reduced as much as possible because of its adverse effects on lipids and lipoproteins. The replacement of TFA with STA compared with other saturated fatty acids in foods that require solid fats beneficially affects LDL cholesterol, the primary target for CVD risk reduction; unsaturated fats are preferred for liquid fat applications. Research is needed to evaluate the effects of STA on emerging CVD risk markers such as fibrinogen and to understand the responses in different populations.

Scientists in Canada reviewing the research so far on links between different diets and heart disease found strong evidence that diets high in vegetables and nuts, and those that follow a Mediterranean pattern rich in fruit, vegetables and fish were strongly associated with lower heart disease risk than those that rely on food with a high glycemic index or high in trans-fatty acids. High glycemic index food includes rice, pasta and refined carbohydrates like white bread, and foods high in trans-fatty acids include fried foods, baked goods and snacks.

Effects of cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on insulin sensitivity, lipid peroxidation, and proinflammatory markers in obese men. Riserus U, Vessby B, Arnlov J, Basu S. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Aug;80(2):279-83. PMID: 15277146 CONCLUSIONS: A CLA preparation containing the purified c9,t11 CLA isomer increased insulin resistance and lipid peroxidation compared with placebo in obese men. Because c9,t11 CLA occurs in commercial supplements as well as in the diet, the present results should be confirmed in larger studies that also include women.

Fernandez ML, West KL. Mechanisms by which dietary fatty acids modulate plasma lipids. J Nutr. 2005 Sep;135(9):2075-8. Review. PMID: 16140878 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Metabolic effects of conjugated linoleic acid in humans: the Swedish experience. Riserus U, Smedman A, Basu S, Vessby B. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;79(6 Suppl):1146S-1148S. PMID: 15159248 CONCLUSIONS CLA and specifically the isolated isomers are interesting model fatty acids for studies of the effects of (structural differences of) unsaturated fatty acids in humans. Today, there is no clear indication for human use of CLA concentrates. The possible importance of the small reduction of body fat after supplementation with the commercially available CLA products, without evidence of an associated improvement in the metabolic profile, has to be weighed against the apparent reduction of HDL cholesterol and an increased lipid peroxidation. The possible health consequences of prolonged treatment periods are at present unknown. Human supplementation with high doses of the trans-10,cis-12 CLA isomer should be avoided while awaiting further information on possible effects and side effects. However, it cannot be excluded that future studies could point to clinical applications, eg, as a result of antitumorigenic properties or as a tool to prevent weight gain. This possibility certainly requires more research to increase the understanding of the mechanisms behind the effects of CLA and specific CLA isomers on a molecular level. More controlled studies in defined populations are needed, as are controlled studies for comparisons of the effects of different and well-defined (mixtures of) isomers and human studies of longer duration to secure long-term effects and safety.

Healthy" food packaging has become plastered with a number of labels intended to attract consumers with diet and weight loss goals. Along with "organic," "trans-fat free" and "low calorie," "gluten free" is one such label. Are you or any of your friends or family on a gluten free diet?

A systematic review of the evidence supporting a causal link between dietary factors and coronary heart disease. Mente A, de Koning L, Shannon HS, Anand SS. Arch Intern Med. 2009 Apr 13;169(7):659-69. PMID: 19364995