Health Consequences of Trans Fats

Trans fats are rare in nature. They are usually made from cis-unsaturated fats in an industrial process called hydrogenation.

During hydrogenation, some double bonds are converted to single bonds, and other double bonds are converted from a cis to a trans configuration. The resulting molecules, with straighter chains, are solid at room temperature and have a long shelf-life. Shortening and margarine are examples of trans fats.

Trans fats elevate LDL cholesterol levels and lower HDL cholesterol levels. They are thought to be as harmful as saturated fats for health—or even worse.