OmegaQuant is introducing a new fatty acid test measuring levels of trans fats in the blood – the Trans Fat Index. High levels of blood trans fats are related to higher risk of heart disease. Blood levels of trans fats are directly related to how much trans fat we eat because our bodies cannot make these kinds of fatty acids. However, the amount of trans fats in food supply continues to change, especially since the FDA’s announcement that trans fats are no longer considered safe for food (see previous blog post). The best way to know your intake of trans fats is to measure it with OmegaQuant’s Trans Fat Index.
According to a study by Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton at the Pennsylvania State University, trans fats accounted for 2.5% of total calories based on a random survey of the diets of ~16,000 Americans. Cakes, cookies, pies and pastries were responsible for the highest amount of trans fats, followed by yeast breads, french fries, grains from ethnic dishes and tortilla chips. If your diet contains these kinds of foods regularly, you may be consuming more trans fats than you realize.
You may also choose to have your full fatty acid profile measured, which would include the levels of 24 fatty acids, the Omega-3 Index, the Trans Fat Index, and ratios of omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids. Order your blood tests from OmegaQuant today!
