It turns out that not all trans fats are bad for you. This past summer, the Food and Drug Administration decided to allow manufacturers to use a specific type of trans fats in their recipes. While the idea of unhealthy trans fats has been ingrained in the minds of consumers, most are unaware of the potential health benefits associated with conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs)have. CLAs are a natural type of trans fat which has several isomers. Some of these isomers can help fight cancer, weight gain, diabetes, and arthritis, and were previously only available to consumers as dietary supplements. CLAs were first noticed in 1979 when scientists were looking for mutagens in hamburgers. A mystery substance in hamburger meat was found that actually inhibited mutagenesis. Despite the potential health benefits, CLAs are still high in calories. As Michael Pariza of the University of Wisconsin-Madison advises, they should mainly be used as a substitute for unhealthy fats.
Source: Science News
