Nut Oils: Understanding Cis & Trans Fats - What You Need to Know

Question
I was told that as soon as you heat up any nut that the oils in that nut become hydrogenated, and that these oils are to be avoided.  Does that mean that the only good nut is a raw nut?

Answer
Donna,

To my knowledge it requires heat to a specific temperature (very very high temps) to turn cis-isomers to trans-isomers or trans-fatty acids.  hydrogenated processing is another process entirely.  Cis is good, while trans is bad.  Some oils are stable such as Olive Oil... no amount of heat will change its configuration.  Roasted nuts are probably OK, since the temperatures to roast them are much lower than the very high heat required to change configurations of the isomers in many oils.

JP Saleeby, MD
www.saleeby.net