| The Heart and Stroke Foundation has urged Canadians to write the Federal Minister of Health about what it calls a "critical health issue." Industrially produced trans-fat is clogging the arteries of Canadians and according to the trans-fat task force co-chaired by the foundation and Health Canada, these fats not only have "absolutely no health benefits," but actually "lead to a 330 per cent increase in the risk of heart disease."
The task force has urged the government to follow the lead of Denmark, Los Angeles and New York City where trans-fat has been banned. The Calgary Health Region announced in January that Calgary could become the first Canadian city to ban trans-fats from its restaurants.
One local natural health foods store isn’t waiting for bureaucrats to put this situation right. Community Natural Foods is the first grocer in Calgary to rid its shelves of products with industrially produced trans fat.
Liam Muzichuk, store manager for the Chinook Station Market, has worked at Community for just over a year. As a yoga instructor, father and husband, Muzichuk takes his health seriously and sees his job as a chance to help others use nutrition to improve their well-being. "We feel responsible for stocking our stores with the most healthful choices possible," says Muzichuk. "Navigating through nutrient fact labels is a big job. We think customers will be more inclined to shop at Community knowing we are committed to their health."
Although awareness of trans-fat has been growing, Canadians are still one of the highest consumers of trans fats in the world, ingesting an average 8.4 grams daily. The process for Community to go trans-fat free involved researching ingredients, contacting vendors and suppliers, analyzing nutrient labels, educating staff and creating a new trans-fat free policy. Muzichuk says there were few products that needed to be pulled since they already weed out many items through other health-focused filters.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation worries low income persons are particularly prone to consuming foods containing trans-fat because they are often more cost effective. Muzichuk views good nutrition as an investment, however, and sees it as a way to help avoid future costs of heart disease and other debilitating health issues. "Choosing quality GM free, organic and trans-fat free foods may seem like it’s more expensive, but there are ways to eat well on a budget. Staple foods, like produce, don’t contain trans-fats in the first place. And by purchasing more bulk items, less processed foods and spending more time on food prep, you can substantially cut down your grocery bill."
Get the fat out
· Common industrially produced trans-fat offenders: margarine, packaged and prepared foods, dips and toppings, snack items, frozen and fast food.
· Healthy alternatives: monounsaturated fats (i.e. olive oil) and polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fats (i.e. flax, fatty fish).
· Naturally occurring trans-fat can be found in small amounts in dairy and some meat products. Maintain a balanced diet rich in whole grains and vegetables to avoid too much of these. |
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