EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
KID
QUIPS
I told her he was at the dentist having oral surgery. She said, "Oh, so they're just gonna talk about it?" READ MORE
Kids' Health
|
||||
|
What do peanut butter, Fruit Roll-Ups, Pop-Tarts, and Nabisco teething biscuits have in common? These children's foods all contain partially hydrogenated oil, the type of oil that is loaded with trans fat, a substance that recent studies show people of all ages should beware of. Trans fat is industrially produced by hardening oil in a chemical process called "hydrogenation." The resulting artificial oil lengthens the shelf life of packaged food and withstands repeated deep-frying. In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration required food labels to disclose the content of trans fat, a move spurred by mounting evidence linking trans fat to heart attacks, the leading cause of death in the U.S. Trans fat increases bad cholesterol (LDL) while decreasing good cholesterol (HDL), making it worse than saturated fat in butter. Even small amounts can be harmful. The five grams of trans fat in a medium order of fries can increase the risk for heart attack by 25%. And McDonald's Happy Meals contain up to twice that amount. So what about our kids? Should we worry about trans fat in our children's food? If a Happy Meal can harm an adult, what is it doing to kids? We don't really know. However, with the rise in childhood obesity, an increasing number of children have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes, conditions previously found only in adults. Many experts believe this generation of children will encounter heart disease at an earlier age, and may have a shorter lifespan than their parents. Furthermore, early studies suggest trans fat may have a harmful effect on babies, even before birth. Trans fat in the mother's diet reaches the baby through the placenta or breast milk and may interfere with the metabolism of good fats, essential to development and growth. We are encouraged to eat as little trans fat as possible. The American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend limiting intake to less than 1% of calories, which amounts to 1 gram a day for a 1-year-old. Avoiding a seemingly ubiquitous ingredient is not easy. Not only is it in margarine and baked goods, but in puddings, Cool Whip, soup mixes and vitamins. Until the U.S. follows Denmark's lead in banning trans fat as a nation, it comes down to our individual effort. The best bet is to whip out the magnifying glass and read food labels. Scan the ingredients for the words "partially hydrogenated," "hydrogenated" or "shortening," which herald the presence of trans fat in the food, regardless of what the nutrition facts say. Look out for false "zeros." The FDA permits an item to be labeled zero grams of trans fat if the food has less than 0.5 grams per serving. Take Skippy peanut butter and Hot Pockets, for example. Both labels trumpet "zero trans fats," while partially hydrogenated oil is listed in the ingredients. Keep in mind that two or three servings of false "zero" foods can easily put your child over the recommended limit. There is industry help for families who want to monitor their intake of trans fat. Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's do not stock foods with trans fats on their store shelves and restaurants such as Quizno's, Wendy's, Taco Bell and KFC have taken steps to limit trans fat in their menus. Teach your child to make heart-healthy choices. Remember the power of your example. As your child sees you exercising, eating a variety of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding unhealthy foods, he is likely to do the same. Dr. Richelle K. Marracino is a family practice physician at UC Riverside Campus Health Center. Information: 951.827.3031. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This ArticleSEARCH THE SITE
