Читать книгу Low-Carb Diet For Dummies - Katherine B. Chauncey - Страница 41

The USDA food consumption survey revealed that the percent of calories from fat in the American diet has leveled off: 40 percent in the 1970s, 34 percent in 1990, 33 percent in 1994, and 34 percent today. That’s in line with American Heart Association’s recommendation to have no more than 25 to 35 percent of calories from fat. However, the total number of calories consumed, primarily from refined-carbohydrate foods, has increased. When the calories increase and the fat intake stays the same, the percent of calories from fat goes down. But the total amount in terms of actual grams of fat consumed per day has stayed about the same.

Even though the amount of fat consumed is about the same, more of the fat intake was represented by trans fats. Many processed carbohydrate foods contain trans fats from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Trans fats act like saturated fat by boosting levels of bad cholesterol and increasing the risk of heart disease. Trans fats are commonly found in carbohydrate foods such as cookies, crackers, chips, french fries, and fast foods. Since 2015 the FDA has taken steps to remove trans fats in processed foods entirely, and it’s working. The FDA started regulating trans fats by identifying the adverse effects of trans fats. Soon after, labeling laws were enacted to identify trans fats on the nutrition facts food label. Trans fat intake in the American diet is decreasing.