Numerous studies have found that trans fat raises our risk of heart disease and the new research has found that people living in areas where trans fats in food are restricted are less likely to be hospitalised for strokes and heart attacks as compared to the areas without restrictions.

Eric Brandt, lead author from Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, US says  “Our study highlights the power of public policy to impact the cardiovascular health of a population.”  

Fried foods, chips, crackers and baked goods commonly contain trans fats. Eating even minimal amounts of trans fats containing foods may lead to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death worldwide.

In the recent years, some communities in the US, especially New York City have eliminated the use of trans fats in restaurants and eateries. Researchers compared the outcomes with and without the trans fats restrictions for the people living in New York countries to study the impact of restricting trans fats.

The researchers focused on hospital admissions for heart attack and stroke by Using the data from the state department of health and census estimates between 2002 and 2013. They found that three or more years after the restrictions were implemented, people living in areas with the bans had significantly fewer hospitalisations for heart attack and stroke when compared to similar urban areas where no limits existed.

The study published in the journal JAMA Cardiology says that the decline for the combined conditions was 6.2 per cent. Brandit says “It is a pretty substantial decline”.

Senior author Tamar S. Polonsky, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago, says “The results are impressive, given that the study focused on trans fatty acid bans in restaurants, as opposed to complete bans that included food bought in stores." further he added saying “If we enact a more complete restriction on trans fatty acids, it could mean even more widespread benefits for people."

You should avoid trans fats as much as possible. Trans fats raise bad cholesterol (LDL ) and make you more likely to get heart disease. 

Source: The Indian Express