Some states have issued a ban on the use of trans fat in restaurants and bakeries—but the war is still on. This inexpensive and doubly unhealthy fat is used in so many food items these days that it has become a part of our daily diet. A diet rich in trans fats can lead to high LDL levels and can negatively affect the functioning of the heart.
 

Trans fats are found naturally in some animal products like lard or butter; but using them in foods can be expensive to food industry owners. So, they resort to inexpensive alternatives to these expensive trans fats, which are processed by chemically adding extra hydrogen to liquid oil. This saturates the oil, which turns into a solid form of fat to be used in large-scale cooking. Though trans fats add good texture and an enjoyable taste, they are very unhealthy for the human system, especially to the heart. Margarine or Crisco added to industry-manufactured food items are forms of trans fat. We must be especially watchful of our diet, since trans fat are capable of increasing the cholesterol levels in our body, thus affecting the heart.

Keeping an eye on your cholesterol levels is essential to keep the heart healthy and properly functioning—high LDL prevents both these from happening. Hence, it is wise to exclude trans fats from the diet. When the daily diet or daily calorie consumption is considered, health organizations advocate only 1 percent of daily calorie consumption to come from trans fats. Following such guidelines can help keep check of the cholesterol levels.