The Fat Free industry was completely off when dealing with obesity. We have learned that we are obese due to many factors, but eating fat wasn’t one of them. Since this discovery, people have been adding more healthy fats back into their diets. Eating fat that is easy to digest and can be used more quickly for energy became the goal; and Paleo & KETO was born.

I’ve covered the different kinds of fats here, and various fat blogs, here, here and here. Even though many diets have green lighted fat, eating bacon everyday on KETO is going to mess up your digestive system. Certain long chained fats are hard to digest. Medium Chain Triglycerides or MCTs have become popular as a healthy fat because it is already broken down, and is more easily digestible.

There is also a subsection in the food industry offering alternatives to saturated fat, but concerns have arisen that these artificial fats have causes some circulatory and metabolic issues that warrant caution when consuming on a regular basis. I usually pull my clients off these products due to their synthetic nature.

For your label reading knowledge, here is a list of artificial fats used in low fat or weight loss foods that pose potential health issues we should be aware of, especially if we are trying to go low fat.

Listing of Artificial Fats and Their Health Concerns

Now, let’s explore some commonly used artificial or modified fats, where they are found, and associated health concerns:

1. Olestra (Olean):
   • Found In: Fat-free potato chips and snacks.
   • Health Concerns: Can cause digestive issues and inhibit the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
2. Partially Hydrogenated Oils (Trans Fats):
   • Found In: Margarine, pastries, and fast food.
   • Health Concerns: Increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
3. Interesterified Fats:
   • Found In: Some margarine, packaged snacks, and ready-made frostings.
   • Health Concerns: Potential effects on blood lipid levels, similar to trans fats.
4. Sucrose Polyester (Olestra):
   • Found In: Fat-free snacks.
   • Health Concerns: Can lead to gastrointestinal distress and nutrient depletion.
5. Palm Oil (Highly Processed):
   • Found In: Processed and packaged foods.
   • Health Concerns: Although not synthetic, its high saturated fat content can contribute to heart disease.
6. Margarine (Containing Trans Fats):
   • Found In: Sticks of margarine and some spreads.
   • Health Concerns: Linked to cardiovascular diseases.
7. Caprenin:
   • Found In: Lower-calorie candy and chocolate.
   • Health Concerns: Similar to Olestra, can interfere with nutrient absorption.
8. Salatrim:
   • Found In: Baked goods and confections.
   • Health Concerns: Long-term health effects are not well-documented but may include gastrointestinal discomfort.
9. Synthetic Butter Flavoring (Diacetyl):
   • Found In: Microwave popcorn and artificial butter flavorings.
   • Health Concerns: Linked to respiratory issues when inhaled from cooking fumes.
   • IN OTHER WORDS: DONT SMELL BUTTERED POPCORN OUT OF THE MICROWAVE!!
10. Chemically Modified Fats:
    • Found In: Various processed foods.
    • Health Concerns: Can vary, but often include increased risk of inflammation and metabolic disturbances.
11. Hydrogenated: Even if fully hydrogenated, these oils can still impact health.
12. Fractionated: May indicate processed oil with altered properties.
13. Synthetic fat substitutes: Names like Olestra or Salatrim suggest lab-created fats.

Look out for these words on your labels if you are trying to avoid fat or go low fat. Holistic methods usually recommend increasing healthy natural fat, and reducing trans and synthetic fats. Learn more in the blogs linked above.