(27-05-13) The structural rigidity of trans fats, and why they are so dangerous for your health

by Jonathan Benson, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Saturated fats often get erroneously lumped into the same
unhealthy category as trans fats because of their similar molecular structure,
which is part of the reason why saturated fats are still largely looked down
upon in mainstream society as harmful to health. But trans fats are actually in
a class of their own when it comes to form, function, and effect on the human
body, and this class is definitely not a positive one. Trans fats, it turns
out, take the place of healthy saturated fats throughout the body and
effectively block things like nutrient absorption, waste elimination, and
immune function - this is why they are so uniquely dangerous for your health.

Though chemically identical to saturated fats, according to GreenMedInfo.com,
trans fats are inherently malformed and unnatural. They are created by
essentially forcing hydrogen molecules through fats at high heat, a process
more commonly known as hydrogenation. This process makes fats more stable,
which in turn prevents them from going rancid quickly, but it also reshapes
fats, altering them from a bended and more loose shape to a straight and more
rigid shape. The alteration of fats in this way renders them poisonous to the
body and a major cause of chronic illness.

When you ingest trans fats, these mutant substances basically replace the
healthy saturated fats naturally found in your cell walls -- this, again, is
due to the fact that they have a similar molecular structure. But trans fats
are far less permeable than saturated fats, and they do not interact with other
molecules in the same way that saturated fats do, which can severely alter
normal bodily function. In essence, your cells require saturated fats in order
to communicate with each other and maintain homeostasis - but when trans fats
come into the picture, everything is thrown off kilter.

"Because trans fats are more stable chemically - the direct result of the
hydrogen atoms being on opposite side of the molecule - they do not interact
properly with other molecules," explains Heidi Stevenson from GreenMedInfo.com.
"The cell wall itself is not as tightly bound as it should be, making it weak
and more permeable than normal. Thus, molecules of toxins that would have been
too large to enter a cell may now be able to squeeze through the cell wall and
wreak havoc inside."

Trans fats suppress hormone production, damage adrenal glands
Cell communication is another major bodily function affected by trans fats. In
order for your body to produce hormones like adrenaline, for instance, which
regulates your "fight-or-flight" response to stress and emergency situations,
your cells need healthy amounts of saturated fats in order to send stress
hormone signals. When cells are not able to do this effectively as a result of
trans fats, however, the body ends up pushing the adrenal glands to work harder
than normal, which can lead to adrenal fatigue and eventually thyroid
dysfunction.

"Trans fats are less chemically active, so the proper signal exchanges cannot
be made and normal cell communication cannot occur. Trans fats are also shaped
differently, so molecules can be stuck either inside or outside the cells. When
trans fats replace saturated ones, critical nutrients may not be able to enter
cells and toxins may not be able to exit. The result is a deranged metabolism,
which affects every aspect of health."

Be sure to check out Heidi Stevenson's full report on trans fats, which
includes visual images of the molecular structures of various fats:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com

Sources for this article include:

http://www.greenmedinfo.com

http://www.umm.edu/features/transfats.htm

http://www.bantransfats.com/

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In evidenza

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