Maurice Boscorelli
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 30, 2010
- Messages
- 19,322
Completely eliminate trans-fats from your diet for better relationships and a happier life. You’ll also be leaner, healthier, and smarter. Everyone can use dietary reminders on occasion, and a new study in the journal PLoS One shows us how bad trans-fats are for us—they MUST be eliminated.
Trans-fats include margarine and shortenings, and are found in high levels in prepared foods. They are produced when unsaturated oils are hydrogenated , or made to be solid at room temperature. Eating them is known to cause serious health problems such as obesity, poor metabolic function, insulin resistance, oxidative stress. They increase your risk of heart disease, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Trans-fats impede the protective effect of omega-3 fats on the brain.
This study looked at the relationship between trans-fat consumption and behavior in a healthy adult population over a 5-year period . Results showed that people who ate more trans-fats were significantly more irritable and aggressive than those who ate less. The association was “robust” even when potential confounding factors such as age, education, smoking, and alcohol use were factored in.
The reason eating trans-fat increases aggression and makes you unhappy is partly because of how they alter the physiological effect of omega-3 fats—the healthiest fats. Trans-fats also are thought to increase inflammation in the brain and cross the brain barrier, increasing depression and negatively altering behavior.
Be aware that the trans-fat intake and aggression were calculated from a self-reported dietary analysis and behavior surveys. Still, researchers note that generally self-reporting should produce a bias towards nonsignificance or “no findings,” but in this case the findings were strong and significant. The value of the study is that it shows how diet affects ALL aspects of our lives: body composition, short- and long-term health outcomes, and behavior. Take this as a reminder to completely eliminate trans-fat from your diet and increase omega-3 intake. Remind your friends and family too!
Trans-fats include margarine and shortenings, and are found in high levels in prepared foods. They are produced when unsaturated oils are hydrogenated , or made to be solid at room temperature. Eating them is known to cause serious health problems such as obesity, poor metabolic function, insulin resistance, oxidative stress. They increase your risk of heart disease, chronic inflammation, and cancer. Trans-fats impede the protective effect of omega-3 fats on the brain.
This study looked at the relationship between trans-fat consumption and behavior in a healthy adult population over a 5-year period . Results showed that people who ate more trans-fats were significantly more irritable and aggressive than those who ate less. The association was “robust” even when potential confounding factors such as age, education, smoking, and alcohol use were factored in.
The reason eating trans-fat increases aggression and makes you unhappy is partly because of how they alter the physiological effect of omega-3 fats—the healthiest fats. Trans-fats also are thought to increase inflammation in the brain and cross the brain barrier, increasing depression and negatively altering behavior.
Be aware that the trans-fat intake and aggression were calculated from a self-reported dietary analysis and behavior surveys. Still, researchers note that generally self-reporting should produce a bias towards nonsignificance or “no findings,” but in this case the findings were strong and significant. The value of the study is that it shows how diet affects ALL aspects of our lives: body composition, short- and long-term health outcomes, and behavior. Take this as a reminder to completely eliminate trans-fat from your diet and increase omega-3 intake. Remind your friends and family too!
