IN THE NEWS

June 6, 2006 - SignOnSanDiego, CA.

Avoiding fast foods with partially hydrogenated oils is key in the fight against artery-clogging fat
By Mark Sauer
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Fast food: two simple, alliterative words that tend to conjure the alluring aroma and tasty promise of cheeseburgers and french fries in all their greasy glory.

But fried foods at places like McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy's and In-N-Out Burger are not only contributing to America's obesity epidemic, they're also loaded with trans-fatty acids - trans fats, for short - which eventually clog arteries the way a towel plugs a toilet.

The Extreme Pita, a chain based in Canada, markets itself as a spot for a quick but healthy meal.

Trans fats were in the spotlight recently when a Danish study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found the amount of trans fats in McDonald's and KFC fare varies dramatically among outlets in the United States and Europe.

A large chicken nuggets/fries combo at a McDonald's in New York City, for example, contained 10.2 grams of trans fats, compared with 0.33 grams in Denmark and about 3 grams in Spain, Russia and the Czech Republic.

Similarly, a large hot wings/fries order at KFC outlets in Poland and Hungary had at least 19 grams of trans fats - four times the amount for fried wings and potato wedges in New York. But that meal in Germany, Russia, Denmark and Scotland had less than 1 gram.

Why the growing concern over trans fats in fried foods?

The threat was "discovered" a few years back through a successful lawsuit filed by a Tiburon attorney against Oreo cookies (which dropped trans fats without sacrificing taste or sales). Soon scientists and nutritionists were stepping forward to explain just how horrible trans fats are for us.

"These fats raise the level of LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower the level of HDL (good cholesterol), quite the opposite of what we would like to see," said Dr. Daniel Steinberg, professor of medicine and endocrinology at the University of California San Diego.

Trans fats increase the risk of heart attack dramatically, even more than saturated fats, which raise both LDL and HDL. A daily intake of 5 grams of trans fats increases heart-attack risk as much as 25 percent, research has shown.

The culprit is partially hydrogenated oil.

Hydrogen is added to vegetable oil, turning it into a solid (think shortening). Trans fats are used not only to fry potatoes and chicken nuggets, but also in crackers, potato and corn chips; breads and other baked goods; cake frosting; and other products using oil.

J.C. Pomerleau studied the nutrition facts of various pita offerings while waiting to order at the new restaurant on Convoy Street. Heather Iantorno and brother Brett Weiss hustle up low-fat pitas daily at The Extreme Pita in Kearny Mesa. A wall poster provides nutrition facts.

Some fast-food facts

Nutrition information on popular fast-food items, plus some Healthy picks:

McDonald's:
Bic Mac / Medium fries
Calories: 560 380
Total fat: 30 g 20 g
Trans fat: 1.5 g 5 g
Carbs: 47 g 47 g

Healthy picks:
California Cobb Salad with grilled chicken; Newman's Own Cobb dressing (half serving); fruit and yogurt parfait with granola. (490 calories; 17 grams of fat; 44 carbs)

Burger King:
Whopper / Medium fries
Calories: 670 360
Total fat: 39 g 20 g
Trans fat: 1.5 g 4.5 g
Carbs: 51 g 41 g

Healthy picks: Chili; fire-grilled chicken Caesar salad; tomato balsamic vinaigrette (half serving). (435 calories; 20 grams of fat; 31 carbs)

Kentucky Fried Chicken:
Chicken breast (original recipe) / Mashed potatoes and gravy
Calories: 380 690
Total fat: 19 g 31 g
Trans fat: 2.5 g 4.5 g
Carbs: 11 g 77 g

Healthy picks: Original drumsticks (two); corn on the cob (large); green beans. (480 calories; 21 grams of fat; 35 carbs)

Wendy's:
Big Bacon Classic / Med. fries
Calories: 580 440
Total fat: 29 g 21 g
Trans fat: 1.5 g 5 g
Carbs: 46 g 58 g

Healthy picks: Mandarin chicken salad; roasted almonds (one packet); low-fat honey mustard dressing (half-packet); junior frosty. (535 calories; 20 grams of fat; 59 carbs)

In-N-Out Burger:
Double-Double / French fries
Calories: 670 400
Total fat: 41 g 18 g
Trans fat: NA NA
Carbs: 39 g 54 g

Healthy picks: Protein-style hamburger with onions (lettuce leaves substituted for bun). (240 calories; 17 grams of fat; 11 carbs)

Rubio's:
Two fish tacos / Beans & chips
Calories: 600 620
Total fat: 32 g 25 g
Trans fat: NA NA
Carbs: 54 g 5 g

Healthy pick: Chicken fiesta salad. (480 calories; 33 grams of fat; 12 carbs)

The Extreme Pita:
Double Philly Cheese Steak (regular)

Calories: 781
Total fat: 34.5 g
Trans fat: 0.6 g
Carbs: 64.4 g

Healthy pick: Grilled chicken salad. (158 calories; 3.4 grams of fat; 12 carbs)

Sources: Nutrition information from restaurant Web sites (some sites failed to list trans fat); healthy picks for McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Wendy's from "What to Eat When You're Eating Out" by Hope Warshaw (Small Steps Press, 2006.) Other healthy picks from restaurant Web sites.

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