trans-fat

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  I heard that if a nutrition label says "partially hydrogenated oil" that it is the same as trans-fat.  Is that true?  I've noticed that sometimes it will say "partially hydrogenated soybean oil/cottonseed oil".  Is that basically the same thing?  Also, what is dextrose?  Is it ok to eat foods that contain dextrose?  Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Danielle,

Good questions! Yes, trans fats are those that were natually polyunsaturated but have been artificially partially saturated (hydrogenated) to make them more solid. An example of an oil being made into a solid is taking corn oil and making it into margarine.
The benefits of corn oil are then not as significant since the liquid fat has been changed to solid.

Dextrose is another term for glucose (a simple sugar). It may be used for texture and other properties in addition to sweetening a food product. It's okay to eat! Of course, large amounts will contribute more calories without necessarily providing any nutrition.

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QUESTION: So, are you saying margarine has partially hydrogenated oil?  I thought margarine was supposed to be a healthy alternative to butter.  Also, is sugar alcohol something that is ok to consume?

Answer
Originally margarine was thought to be healthier than butter because it used an unsaturated vegetable oil. Butter had saturated fat and cholesterol, but margarine did not.
Over the years, research on heart disease related to diet lead to the discovery that it wasn't the cholesterol in animal products that correlated to cardiovascular artery clogging, but the saturated fats!

Nowadays many margarines have founds alternative methods to make vegetable oil more solid. And many of the margarines (like squeeze or spray forms) are much less saturated.

As far as sugar alcohol, these (mannitol, xylitol, etc) are found in sugar free gums and candies. They are artificial sweeteners and do have a small amount of calories. When eaten in large amounts they can cause diarrhea.
Other than that, they are fine to consume!

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