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Bodytalk
Question: Why aren't trans fats listed on food labels? Aren't they as unhealthy for the heart as saturated fats? Trans fats to
appear on food labelsAnswer: Yes. Trans fats are as unhealthy for the heart as saturated fats, as they pose the same risk for heart disease as saturated fats.
Trans fats are formed when polyunsaturated fats are hydrogenated. That happens when one or more additional hydrogen atoms are added to the polyunsaturated fat's molecular chain.
Until recently, trans fats sort of slipped through the labeling cracks, even though their unwholesome nature was exposed years ago.
Now that has changed.
A few months ago the FDA proposed a rule stating that the trans fat content of all prepared food, and the percentage of the recommended daily amount that an individual serving contains, be listed on nutritional labels. A "trans-fat free" claim would be allowed only for foods containing less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.
Products such as margarine, baked goods and most packaged snack foods contain trans fats.
In conclusion, it shouldn't be longer than a few months before the trans fat mystery and the related guesswork is over.
Q. Does melatonin help to combat jet lag?
A. That is still open to debate. One thing is for sure, melatonin has become very popular and is widely used as a remedy for jet lag.
There have been several studies published on the validity of melatonin. One independent study showed that using melatonin didn't ease the symptoms of jet lag any better than a placebo. Another concluded the opposite. The problem with some of these studies is that they're funded by the product manufacturer, and the manufacturer has a vested interest in a positive outcome.
It's a known fact that the melatonin you buy may be poorly formulated and of an inferior quality, which can decrease its availability to the body. There is still no regulatory agency that oversees the manufacturing of supplements, nor one that enforces quality control.
My advice is to try melatonin if you want to, but don't exceed the recommended 1 milligram of melatonin per day. I also would advise you to explore other options for reducing the symptoms of jet lag.
Q. What are edamame soybeans? I had them at an Asian restaurant and went wild for them.
A. Edamame (ed-uh-mah-may) are simply fresh soybeans parboiled and served while still in the pod. They have been available in Japanese and Asian restaurants for some time.
Because of their popularity, they are now showing up in the freezers of grocery stores. They can be found packaged, both in their pods and podless.
You can steam, boil or microwave them. They cook in five minutes, so they are very convenient. Each cup of de-podded edamame has 20 percent of a day's fiber and vitamin A requirements, a little more than 10 percent of vitamin C and protein requirements, and 50 milligrams of isoflavones, the phytochemical that appears to help lower cholesterol, help relieve the symptoms of menopause, and reduce the risk of prostate and breast cancer.
All this for just 60 calories and 2 grams of fat, and to top it all off, they are out of this world delicious.
Health Events
Stephenie Karony is a certified health
and fitness instructor, a personal trainer and the author of
"Body Shaping with Free Weights." Send questions to her at
P.O. Box 262, Wailuku Hi. Her column appears on Wednesdays.