(I don't eat hydrogenated oils.)

I attribute having lost a lot of weight over the last year or so to a few key changes to the foods that I consume, since I'm only a little more active. (I generally eat less now, too.) One of the things that I've done is cut out hydrogenated oils, as much possible. The problem is that when I tell people that, I have a hard time explaining why. So here, I'm posting this article: Trans Fats article

( Text of the link )

While small amounts of trans fats are found naturally in meat and dairy foods, these fats are mostly found in processed foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils, including many baked goods (such as donuts and cookies), snack foods (chips and crackers), margarines (especially stick), microwave popcorns, frozen meals, and even some peanut butters. They're created when vegetable oils undergo a chemical process ("hydrogenation") that makes them more solid. Manufacturers like hydrogenated oils for obvious reasons--they make foods crisp, creamy, moist, flavorful, and shelf-stable. Much fast food is also fried in partially hydrogenated oil, because the oil stands up well to repeated use. But the trans fats that result act like saturated fats in the body, raising total and LDL ("bad") blood cholesterol. In addition, trans fats lower protective HDL ("good") cholesterol. They may also increase triglycerides and inflammation and have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes. A 1999 Harvard report estimated that replacing trans fats with unsaturated vegetable oils could prevent at least 30,000 heart disease deaths in the U.S. each year.

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I've found some really wonderful products. Thanks to a non-hydrogenated oil (vegan) shortening, divinityof_fire makes biscuits again sometimes. (Yay for me.) Did you know that not all shortening is *vegetable* shortening? And while I ♥ butter, there is a non-margarine, non-animal fat spread that tastes quite good & melts really well. Thriftway and PCC (and I'm sure, Whole Foods and Metropolitan Markets... some items even at WalMart!) carry these. Annie's makes bunny shaped crackers that are at least as tasty as Pepperidge Farm goldfish. Newman O's beat Oreos. Actually, I feel that most of the healthier products taste better.

Certainly, I could just not buy any snack food & junk food prepared foods. If I started with raw ingredients all the time, all my meals would be more wholesome. And as it is, I don't eat a lot of them. But sometimes, I really want a potato chip.

Now I just need to find a good explanation for why I avoid high fructose corn syrup!

Refresh. {laugh} Refresh {laugh again}

Nipped from amewarashi. I had to make myself stop.

You went trick or treating as TheWhiteWitch.
BarryManilow gave you PinkNailPolish.
DickCheney gave you ASpearmint.
SimonAndGarfunkel gave you APurpleCrayon.
Dream gave you ACarrot.
You had a terrible time until Willow fell through your roof.

What's Your Trick-or-Treat Haul?
Shiver My Timber--A Pirate RPG

One of these days, I'm going to have a real costume again and space to throw a party. Nest year, I'm dressing up even if I'm the only one for miles. It makes me sad that I don't have a costume.

But! I found a pendant that I had *forgotten* (how?!) that I had. He's so beautiful; I wish I could show him to you.