QuestionI just wanted to know if foods containing partially hydrogenated oils, mono-diglicerides and wheat gluten are bad for you health. I know that these oils are considered unhealthy. However, if you eat foods such as smart ones frozen dinners or fat free ice cream will these foods still cause you to gain weight because they have partially hydrogenated oils in then fairly close to the top of the ingriediant list even though these foods are considered health foods (low fat)? Is it ok if I just eat a small amoint of foods containing these oils, such as one frozen dinner every other day without having to worry about gaining weight?
Is wheat glueten bad for you? Will it cause you to gain weight?
Would it be possilble to eat foods containing these substances and not gain weight if I do a good amount of exersice everyday?
Thank you for all of your help.
Nate
AnswerHi Nate,
Here's a quotation I like:
"Consuming partially hydrogenated oils is like inhaling cigarette smoke. They will kill you -- slowly, over time, but as surely as you breathe. And in the meantime, they will make you fat!" -- Eric Armstrong.
Hydrogenated oils contain trans fats. According to the FDA, the majority of trans-fat is formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats like shortening and hard margarine by a process called hydrogenation. They are shown to increase one's appetite and slow down metabolism. Partially hydrogenated oil can be even worse since most partially hydrogenated oil is partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which depresses the thyroid.
Generally, I don't think that eating small amounts of these oils is a solution. Again, to quote Eric Armstrong, "Partially hydrogenated oils will not only kill you in the long term by producing diseases like multiple sclerosis and allergies that lead to arthritis, but in the meantime they will make you fat!"
Sources:
eDiets, treelight.com
Tanya Zilberter
