Philip finds this information while doing research about margarine, which is a synthetic food product.
Hydrogenation is a process through which vegetable oil is changed from a liquid into a solid. During hydrogenation, a chemical reaction occurs. Hydrogen is added under pressure to the vegetable oil, resulting in a synthetic form of fat called trans fat. Trans fats typically taste better and can be stored longer than natural vegetable oils. A food product that results from hydrogenation is margarine. The Mayo Clinic website explains that margarines that contain trans fats increase the risk of heart disease and increased levels of cholesterol in the blood. Trans fats also reduce the amount of “good” cholesterol in the blood. Trans fats occur naturally in meat and dairy products. A 2009 report in Advances in Nutrition suggests that trans fats from animal products, such as dairy, beef, and lamb, may have beneficial health effects, including reducing the chance of developing heart disease or cancer. Which conclusion is best supported by the information that Philip gathered?
0 A) Trans fats have little effect on your health.
O B) Experts recommend avoiding trans fats altogether.
O C) Research shows conflicting evidence of the effect of trans fats on human health.
O D) Trans fats produced by hydrogenation have the same overall effect on human health as naturally occur- ring trans fats.
