- 1). Look at the ingredient list on products off the shelf. By law, manufacturers must list all ingredients used in their products. Look for the phrase "partially hydrogenated." This can be applied to a variety of oils, such as soybean oil, vegetable oil, and cottonseed oil. All are bad for your health. Also, look at the Nutrition Fact label, which has a listing for "trans fats." If the trans fats provide more than one percent of your daily intake of calories, then this product exceeds recommendations made by The American Heart Association.
- 2). Ask at restaurants. It's trickier to get this info, but some restaurants will freely disclose this information when asked, though as of 2010, it is not yet required by the FDA. Large restaurant chains like McDonald's also have this information published online, so that you can fact check before going out.
- 3). Be wary of fried foods. As a rule of thumb, if the food is deep-fried, it's probably cooked in partially hydrogenated oils. Although this is not always the case, trans fats are the preferred oil for frying vats, since it lasts longer and is cheaper than the alternatives. However, as always, ask before assuming. Some restaurants use beef tallow or coconut oil, instead, which are naturally saturated fats and easier for the body to process.
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