DEAR DR. GOTT: I have a high cholesterol level that I have been trying to lower – rather unsuccessfully I might add. I’ve been told if I modify my junk food pattern consumption and additionally lower my trans fats, I will have an easier time keeping my numbers in line.

This brings me to my main question. What in the world are trans fats? I see food labels (to include those ingredients that are bad for me) that indicate “zero trans fats” on the label but are those trans fats hidden to make things taste better and how bad are they for me, anyway? I really need an education here.

DEAR READER: Trans fats are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil through a process known as hydrogenation. This is a good thing for the producer but a bad thing for the consumer. [Read more...]