hydrogenated

Question
Dear Kim

What is fully hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated? Which one is better?

Someone told me that fully hydrogenated is healthier but I just don't understand how it can be healthier when it is FULLY hydrogenate compared to partially hydrogenate. I was told that hydrogenate means pumping in hydrogen but how can fully be healthier if it means pumping more hydrogen. Please clarify.

Thank you. Your answer is very much appreciated.

Truly

Eddie

Answer
The difference is that fully hydrogenated fats do not contain trans fat, which of course are very unhealthy.  Partial hydrogenation is a process that rids an oil of its highly unsaturated fatty acid content and changes almost half of the original fatty acids to trans fatty acids and a number of other unnatural fatty acids. Hydrogenation, when carried out in its totality, produces only saturated fatty acids; and a totally saturated oil has the consistency of a wax and is not appropriate for use in food except in very small amounts added with emulsifiers to food products such as peanut butter.  That is why they just do it partially.  Lets not forget that saturated fat is not healthy either!

On product labels, the terms hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated are used interchangeably by some companies and by parts of the government writings, so you have to be careful.

Hope that helps,
Kim Tessmer, RD LD
www.Nutrifocus.net  

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