In Mr Udo Erasmus's Book "Fats That Heal Fats That Kill", you can find the following
paragraphs ..
"How Our Body Deals With Trans-Fatty Acids
Just as a bricklayer can deal with defective bricks when building, our body has ways
of dealing with trans-fatty acids in our diet. Some enzymes, luckily for us, recognize
the difference in shape of trans-fatty acids from natural cis-fatty acids, and refuse
to use trans-fatty acids in functions for which these changed molecules are not
suited. Some tissues in our body also recognize and reject trans-fatty acids. Our
brain is partially protected from them and the placenta does not let them pass through
into the fetus completely, protecting the unborn child to some extent, but neither
brain nor fetus is completely protected from trans-fatty acids.
A bricklayer may destroy defective bricks to prevent them from being used. Our body
deals with trans-fatty acids in a similar way. It breaks them down as quickly as
it can, metabolizing twisted trans-EFA molecules for energy, whereas it conserves
natural cis-EFAs for more important functions. In this way, interfering trans-fatty
acids are selectively removed, and their interference with EFA functions is kept
to a minimum.
If too many bricks are defective, a bricklayer may have to use some of them in the
structure. Our body's capacity to break down altered fatty acids is limited, although
that limit has not yet been clearly determined by measurements. When our intake exceeds
our limit, disease begins to manifest, because our body attempts to use altered molecules
for vital structures and functions.
Trans-Fatty Acids and Disease
Atherosclerosis. Trans-fatty acids can increase blood cholesterol levels by up to
15% and blood fat (TG) levels by up to 47% very rapidly when partially hydrogenated
vegetable oil containing 37% trans-fatty acids is ingested. High TG levels play a
part in developing cardiovascular disease. If our diet contains cholesterol, the
effect of trans-fatty acids is enhanced. Trans-fatty acids increase the size of atherosclerotic
plaque in pig aortas in experimental situation. High levels of natural highly unsaturated
cis-fatty acids found in flax, hemp, and cold water fish oils reverse these effects
of trans-fatty acids.
A large, well-controlled study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in
1990 shows conclusively that trans-fatty acids increase total cholesterol and 'bad'
low-density lipoprotein (LDL), both of which are correlated with increased cardiovascular
disease, disproving manufacturer's advertising claims that suggest that margarines
can be good for the health of our heart.
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