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Nutrition Diva host Monica Reinagel is a board-certified Licensed Nutritionist and a professionally-trained chef. She has authored four books on health and nutrition and her advice is regularly featured on television, radio, on the web, and in the nation’s leading newspapers and magazines. Monica is also a professional opera singer who regularly dresses up in outlandish costumes, steps onto a stage, and rips off an aria or two.

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Natural Trans Fats

June 16, 2010
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Ask the Diva: Why are There Trans Fats in My Yogurt?

Q. I wrote to my favorite yogurt company, Cabot, after seeing trans fat listed on the Nutrition Facts label of their Greek yogurt. I received a letter back with a link to an article about natural trans fats in dairy being good for you. What is your take? I have never heard of a natural trans fat.

A. Many people are under the impression that trans fats are all man-made. But, in fact, small amounts of trans fats occur naturally in dairy and beef. Natural trans fats don't seem to have the same damaging health effects as the man-made trans fats that you find in hydrogenated vegetable oils. And, yes, preliminary research suggests that some of the naturally occurring trans fats in dairy may actually be beneficial. But keep in mind that the amount of naturally occurring trans fats is pretty small; it's nothing to worry about but it's also unlikely to have a substantial positive impact either.

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Sarah
3/6/2011 10:06:18 PM

Thanks so much for printing this! I couldn't believe it when I saw that there was 1 gram of trans fat in a serving of my plain Cabot Greek Style Yogurt. After skimming the ingredients list looking for shortening and/or partially-hydrogenated oils and seeing neither, I was scratching my head, wondering where the trans fats could have come from. I'm thankful that this isn't the same as the harmful trans fats found in the aforementioned oils and shortening. I guess I can keep saving money by buying the Cabot Greek Yogurt tubs, which are much cheaper in my store than the other Greek yogurts sold there. :-)

David
12/7/2010 3:53:49 AM

Trans fatty acids found in ruminate fats differ considerably from those found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils because the average placement of the trans double bond.

The major trans fatty acids in ruminant fats have the double bond in the delta-11 position. This has been given the name of trans-vaccenic acid and it is a precursor to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which is reported to be anti-carcinogenic http://bit.ly/iirykX

The Delta- 9 position, (elaidic acid), has been identified as a health problem, as have Delta-10 and Delta-12. (These make up the majority of trans fats in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils)

This information is from Know Your Fats: the Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol by Mary Enig.

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Natural Trans Fats

Ask the Diva: Why are There Trans Fats in My Yogurt?

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