Facts On Fats: What To Eat And What To Avoid

From curbside snack carts to four-star restaurants, New York City chefs have until next summer to rid their kitchens of trans fat.

It’s a bold move, but a necessary one, according to city health officials.

“When you look at the evidence, there’s no question artificial trans fat increases the risk for coronary heart disease,” says Sonia Angell, M.D., director of cardiovascular disease prevention and control at New York City’s Department of Health.

“The most conservative estimates show that the replacement of these fats with heart-healthy alternatives can decrease coronary artery disease risk by 6 percent, and it is likely even higher.”

In fact, a recent Harvard University study showed that women with low blood levels of trans fat are three times less likely to develop heart disease. .

The Big Apple’s impending trans fat ban is making other cities, food companies, and scientific experts pay closer attention to the increasingly complex relationships between dietary fat and health.

Here’s the latest on fats, including where each is found, what it does, and how much or how little to eat.

More information on Fats at CNN