Answered: Many processed and fast foods contain…

Biology (MindTap Course List)

11th Edition

ISBN:9781337392938

Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg

Publisher:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. Berg

Chapter3: The Chemistry Of Life: Organic Compounds

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 7TYU: Saturated fatty acids are so named because they are saturated with (a) hydrogen (b) water (c)...

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Question

Many processed and fast foods contain trans fatty acids. Explain why these molecules are a
problem for the body.

Expert Solution

Step 1

Commercial products such as frozen pizza, doughnuts, french fries, etc., contain trans fats or trans fatty acids. The trans-fatty acid-containing food products are made up of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

Step 2

Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are solid at room temperature. It does not get spoiled easily and increases the shelf life of commercial food products. This is why trans fats or trans fatty acids are preferred in commercial foods.

Our body contains good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL).

HDL is considered good because it can carry cholesterol to the liver for removal.
LDL dont carry them to the liver and allows them to build up inside the artery walls giving them a chance to block them.

Trans-fatty acids are nasty for our health.

Trans fatty acids raise the concentration of bad cholesterol or LDL and decrease the concentration of good cholesterol or HDL in our body, so they are considered the worst type of fat.
The build-up of trans fatty acids may increase the risk of heart failure.
This is because they may deposit and rupture the artery walls; a blood clot may form and block blood flow to a part of your heart, causing a heart attack; or to a part of your brain, causing a stroke.

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Many processed and fast foods contain trans fatty acids. Explain why these molecules are a problem for the body.