Stowelink joins The International Institute Of Legislative Affairs in the fight to eliminate trans fats and implement the World Health Organization’s REPLACE strategy for trans fats. Stowelink has been actively engaged in a series of advocacy trainings, capacity building and knowledge creation on trans fats all facilitated by IILA. With this in mind, we intend to actively contribute towards the reduction and elimination of trans fats through engaging actively in awareness trainings, research, and policy changes. But why a strong focus on trans fats?

Trans fat is considered the worst type of fat to eat. Unlike other dietary fats, trans fats — also called trans-fatty acids — raise “bad” cholesterol and also lowers “good” cholesterol. A diet laden with trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, the leading killer of adults. The more trans fats eaten, the greater the risk of heart and blood vessel disease. Trans fats are so unhealthy that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited food manufacturers from adding the major source of artificial trans fats to foods and beverages. Several countries and several cities in the United States have limited or banned the use of trans fats.

On the next article we will look at trans fats in details.