Food Labels, Decoded
Real Simple translates common label terms to help you make the wisest choices.
“0 Grams Trans Fat”
What it means: Contains less than 0.5 gram of trans fats per serving.
The health implications: Trans fats are associated with raising bad LDL cholesterol and lowering good HDL cholesterol, which increases a person's
risk of developing heart disease and having a stroke.
Keep in mind: Trans fats are sometimes replaced with unhealthy saturated fats, like palm and coconut oils, which also aren't ideal. What's
more, most foods with trans fats, such as cakes, cookies, and doughnuts, are high in calories and low in nutrients.
Bottom line: Avoid any product with "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" in the ingredient list; these terms indicate the presence
of trans fats. But keep in mind that you should limit saturated fats, too.
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