Monday, June 07, 2010

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

People are being more and more health conscious now. One of the keys to keep yourself fit and healthy is to eat right.

Now, how many of you read the nutrients and ingredients label before putting the jar of peanut butter or the box of milk into your shopping cart? Do you really know what you are consuming?

Some time back, I was told that there's a very unhealthy substance contained inside one of my favourite food - PEANUT BUTTER. Oh I used to scoop 'em from the jar and eat 'em just like that. What I do not know was that most peanut butter contains Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil.

[image from globalfjord]

I read up a bit on hydrogenated vegetable oil and did a summary of my own.
Vegetable Oil: Liquid form
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: Solid form
Hydrogenation: High tech chemical process [read more here]
Purpose of Hydrogenation: Prolong shelf life
Downside of Consumption: Increase risk of coronary heart disease and etc

[image from BusinessWeek]

Foods Almost Always Made With Partially Hydrogenated Oils
  • Cake mixes, biscuit, pancake and cornbread mixes, frostings
  • Cakes, cookies, muffins, pies, donuts
  • Crackers
  • Peanut butter (except fresh-ground)
  • Frozen entrees and meals
  • Frozen bakery products, toaster pastries, waffles, pancakes
  • Most prepared frozen meats and fish (such as fish sticks)
  • French fries
  • Whipped toppings
  • Margarines, shortening
  • Instant mashed potatoes
  • Taco shells
  • Cocoa mix
  • Microwave popcorn

Many Brands of these Foods are Made with Partially Hydrogenated Oils
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Corn chips, potato chips
  • Frozen pizza, frozen burritos, most frozen snack foods
  • Low-fat ice creams
  • Noodle soup cups
  • Bread
  • Pasta mixes
  • Sauce mixes

It's quite impossible for hectic people like us to stay away from processed food. Try minimizing the consumption of these food and go for food made from scratch if you want to keep your heart healthy. Billy, out.

Reference:
1. Healthy Lifestyle | Hydrogenated Oils
2. What is Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

5 comments:

gio said...

i like peanut butte also ah ~!!!!

>.<

y r u bringing bad news to me ?

Skaine said...

Because of this hydrogenated vegetable oil, margarine is always considered worse than butter although margarine is made of vegetable oil which seems to be more healthy than animal oil that forms butter.

Never look at one thing on its surface only. By researching more deeply, you will found out that butter is better than margarine.

However, it's better not to take much butter as it contains higher percentage of saturated fat than unsaturated fat.

Billy said...

[gio]
Sorry lor, but it's the fact. I'm sad also okay... =(

[skaine]
yah, you are right. Moderation would be good. Butter or margarine, both are fatssssss.

Julez said...

I wonder who was your 'source' that told you its BAD! *giggles*

Billy said...

[Julez]
dunno who leh... hehehe..

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