According to a Mayo Clinic report, when it comes to fat, trans fat is considered by some doctors to be the worst kind of fat. 

Unlike other kinds of fat, trans fats (known also as trans fatty acids or partially hydrogenated oils) give a double whammy; they raise bad (LDL) cholesterol and lower good (HDL) cholesterol. They are also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. 

Trans fats occur naturally and artificially.  In the manufacturing process, they are created by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid.  Companies use trans fats in their foods because they are easy to use, inexpensive to produce and last a long time. 

Trans fats also give foods a good taste and texture.  Small amounts of trans fats occur naturally in some meats and dairy products.  Research is unclear at this point whether these naturally occurring trans fats have the same bad effects on cholesterol levels as trans fats that have been artificially manufactured.

Fleet and Family Readiness Programs are focused on providing you healthy dining options and have taken steps to ensure their menus are zero grams trans fat at all MWR-operated restaurants and galleys in Navy Region Northwest. 

These restaurants and galleys have undergone a self-inspection with their food suppliers and made appropriate changes to any products not meeting the zero grams trans fat goal, such as cooking oil. 

You can rest assured when dining at an MWR-operated food establishment or galley that the food you are eating is zero grams trans fat.  All restaurant menus will reflect the 0 grams trans fat menu logo for your assurance.

Why do this?  Recent research has shown the negative side of trans fats in foods, especially fried foods like French fries, donuts, baked goods, pie crusts, biscuits, pizza dough, cookies, stick margarine and shortenings.  The American Heart Association recommends limiting the amount of trans fats a person eats to less than one percent of total daily calories. 

That means if a person normally consumes 2,000 calories per day, no more than 20 of those calories should come from trans fats; which is less than two grams of trans fat a day.  Considering the naturally occurring trans fats in some foods, that leaves very little, if any, room for manufactured trans fats. 

All this can be confusing, but MWR-operated restaurants and the galleys are working hard to ensure their menus feature healthy options, zero grams trans fat, and choices such as side salads in place of fried side dishes. 

There are many resources available to help make smart decisions about reducing or eliminating trans fats in your diet. Replace trans fats with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. Read Nutrition Facts labels on the foods you buy at the store. When eating out, ask what kinds of oils foods are cooked with. 

Visit Web sites like the American Heart Association, Mayo Clinic or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for additional information and resources.