Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

Fat Chance! Column for the week of July 13-19, 2003

archives |

printer-friendly version

What exactly are these trans-fats we’ve been hearing so much about in the news? Trans-fats are found in hundreds of thousands of processed foods that we eat everyday and that’s not good news for our arteries. They are mainly in margarines and cooking oils that have been hydrogenated, a process where each little molecule of oil is injected with lots of hydrogen atoms, thus making it harder for it to become rancid. That’s good news for convenience foods and bad news for our health because trans fats contribute to high cholesterol, stokes, and heart disease, the number one cause of death in the U.S. It is such a problem that the FDA will require companies to include the amount of trans-fats on labels by 2006.

Just how much of the average diet consists of trans fats? According to the Trans Fat Info Web, doughnuts have 35 to 40 % trans fats. (Please pass the Krispy Kremes!) French fries have about 40%. (Let’s super size that order!) Processed cookies and crackers have 30 to 50%. (How do you like to eat your Oreos?) Potato chips have 40%. (Nobody can eat just one!) But not to worry because according to an article in the July 14, 2003 issue of Newsweek by David Noonan entitled You Want Statins With That? statin drugs will cure all your artery clogging ills. They are considered the present day miracle drug. Dr. Rory Collins of Oxford University says, “Statins are the new aspirin.”

He may be right. Even though statins are prescription drugs, everyone but everyone is using them to lower cholesterol. Pharmaceutical companies couldn’t be happier and have upped their marketing and ad campaigns to prove it. The article states “last year doctors wrote more than 118 million statin prescriptions, according to IMS Health.” And not only do these statin drugs lower cholesterol, some say they may be useful in fighting heart disease, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis. Studies are under way and researchers claim they are getting good results.

Well is there a down side? Perhaps, but no one seems concerned. In fact that issue wasn’t even covered in the article. But here are just some of the possible adverse reactions to Lipitor, the most prescribed statin: chest pain, edema, fever, malaise, photosensitivity reaction, nausea, gastroenteritis, colitis, vomiting, esophagitis, anorexia, increased appetite, gastritis, rectal hemorrhage, ulceration, jaundice, pancreatitis, bronchitis, gum hemorrhage, pneumonia, asthma, insomnia, dizziness, anemia, abnormal dreams, libido decreased, incoordination, facial paralysis, depression, arthritis, leg cramps, dry skin, acne, eczema, urinary infection, impotence, fibrocystic breast, vaginal hemorrhage, incontinence, dry eyes, deafness, glaucoma, taste loss, taste perversion, palpitation, migraine, phlebitis, angina, hypertension, hyperglycemia, gout weight gain, hypoglycemia, and I’m not making this up….amnesia. Of course there were many more but these are the only ones I could pronounce.

So what are people to do? Should they actually alter their lifestyle? Should they try to lose weight, quit smoking, exercise, and eat healthy? Sure, but that would take time and discipline. Can they give up trans-fats? Fat chance! It would be hard to do in this rapid paced society where convenience and fast food are kings! Popping a pill is definitely easier. If it actually gives you amnesia you might not remember any of the other adverse reactions.

On that cheery note I’ll leave you with this thought: “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you...” (3 John 1:2, NIV). Prayers like this may be the only way any of us survive.

©July 2003

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.