Elaine Magee

The Recipe Doctor

From low-fat recipes to recipes designed for persons with diabetes, Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, shares recipes and advice to create healthy meals that are guaranteed to please. [Editor's note: Elaine no longer contributes to Silver Planet, but we have made her archived blog entries available as a service to our readers.]


Posted 10/07/2009

Eat Breakfast at Home to Avoid Trans Fats

Staying "heart healthy"

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD

Some fast-food chains have jumped on the trans-free train and
successfully eliminated these fats from most of their choices. Other
chains have not.

A quick look at the nutrition information for Jack in
the Box breakfast items clearly shows that trans-isomer fatty acids (i.e., "trans fat") are still on the
menu. Here are the items I found with at least three grams of trans fat per serving:

  • French Toast Sticks: 10 g
  • Hearty Breakfast Bowl: 6 g
  • Denver Breakfast Bowl: 6 g
  • Hash Brown Sticks (5): 4 g
  • Sausage Croissant: 4 g
  • Steak & Egg Burrito: 3 g
  • Supreme Croissant: 3 g
  • Chorizo Sausage Burrito: 3 g

(Source: JackInTheBox.com, August 2009)

Why does this matter? Consumption of trans fats is related to increased risk of coronary heart disease because they raise LDL “bad” cholesterol levels while lowering HDL “good” cholesterol. Trans fats may also help inflame and stiffen the arteries (not a good thing).

Experts estimate that a 2% increase in calorie intake from trans fat may increase the risk for a coronary event by up to 23%. The American Heart Association advises Americans to consume no more than two grams of trans fat per day. Just one of the breakfast choices shown above sends you over the daily limit, and it isn’t even lunchtime!

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
The Recipe Doctor Blog

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