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Speaking at a webinar organized by P Mark Mustard Oil in collaboration with the Hindustan Times, eminent cardiologist Dr K. K. Aggarwal warned of the health risks posed by Trans Fatty Acids (TFA). He called them “The Killer” because of the many ways in which they can harm your body, in particular, by increasing the risks associated with heart disease, hypertension and stroke. Typically, TFA is found in low-grade cooking oils, hydrogenated oils and packaged foods. Those burgers, pizzas and other fast foods that tempt you with their heady aroma and tantalizing flavours – well, they are packed with Trans Fats. Beware!
A comprehensive review of various studies on Trans Fats was published in The New England Journal of Medicine and all of them reported a strong and consistent relation between the consumption of Trans Fats and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). It was concluded that on a per calorie basis, Trans Fats appear to increase the risk of heart disease more than any other macronutrient.
Another disturbing finding was that the risk of Coronary Artery Disease approximately doubled when the intake of Trans Fats increased by just 2 per cent. Do remember this the next time you tell yourself “Just a little can’t harm me all that much.” Yes, it can.
Another eye-opener from the same set of studies: By replacing 2 per cent of food energy from Trans Fats with unsaturated fats reduced the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) by 53 per cent. So it’s really worth the sacrifice.
In this context, it would be appropriate to point out that cold-pressed Mustard Oil offers among the healthiest of fatty acid profiles. It has zero Trans Fats, it has the lowest levels of Saturated Fatty Acids among all other cooking oils, and it is rich in good fats like Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA).
