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While everything can be healthy in moderation, it is important to consider these tips when choosing the proper lipid/fat sources. Being cautious can help prevent fluctuations in cholesterol levels and clogged arteries. Make sure to achieve the proper amount of omega fatty acids. Avoiding highly processed and hydrogenated foods helps eliminate some of these risks, and focusing on whole, organic products ensures the intake of essential nutrients.
For More Information:
Trans Fats: What They Are and 19 Foods To Avoid
Which Foods Still Contain Trans Fats?
What Causes Butterflies In Your Stomach? How Trans Fats Affect Mental Health And Well-being
By Molly Santaniello
First-year student, Public Health
David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics
Students are always told not to eat fatty foods because the ingredients lead to weight gain, heart disease, heightened cholesterol and other adverse health effects. However, unlike other unhealthy ingredients, trans fats even have the power to affect emotions. In short, foods high in trans fats can cause gut inflammation, eventually suppressing the release of serotonin and dopamine (the happy hormones).
Have you ever had butterflies in your stomach? Well, this expression is not just a metaphor but a natural feeling in the gut caused by anxiety.
All 11 organ systems in the human body are so interconnected that they are catalysts, relying on each other to maintain proper balance. The organ systems are co-dependent on each other for functioning and optimal health; if one is unhealthy, it will affect the other organ systems. Thus, the brain is directly connected to the gastrointestinal tract through the central nervous system and controls certain aspects of digestion. Emotions can affect gut health, and gut health can impact mental illness, thus making healthy diet choices essential to health and well-being.
According to MedlinePlus, artificial trans fats pose substantial health risks because of the hydrogenation when manufactured, and these unhealthy fats are found primarily in baked goods and processed foods. In college dining halls, students are exposed to vast quantities of these foods, and because of the accessibility, the unhealthy foods are tempting.
Fast food, such as fries and burgers, potato chips, margarine, dairy creamers, donuts, cookies and pies, are some foods highest in trans fats, so intake should be limited. These sources of trans fats lower HDL (good) cholesterol, increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, clog arteries, heighten the risk of Type 2 diabetes and hamper the production of neurotransmitters. Thus, trans fats are dangerous for human blood, biomes and brains.
Because of the gut-brain axis, scientists have begun studying cognitive and emotional behaviors with gastrointestinal processes. According to Medical News Today, “Scientists believe it may play a role in the relationship between the gut and a person’s state of mental health.” The gut microbiota is a collection of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses that are essential in the digestive system for proper functioning and aid in regulating the immune system. Dysbiosis is the imbalance of microorganisms in a person’s microflora, which leads to illness and causes inflammation in the gut. Studies have shown that stress in certain parts of the gastrointestinal tract causes microbiota to release cytokines from inflammatory cells, affecting the nervous system, too.
Gut microbiotas control the regulation of neurotransmitters like serotonin, affecting mood stabilization. This chain reaction leads to inflammation affecting the gut-brain axis and suppressing necessary neurotransmitters, both correlating with elevated levels of mental illnesses. That is, imbalances in the gastrointestinal system send signals to the central nervous system that trigger mood changes. A poor diet can affect levels of serotonin and dopamine.
Most brain-gut effects on mental health can be prevented with intelligent decisions and healthy eating habits. Being conscious of what types of fat, oil, sugar and processed ingredients are in meals is vital to help maintain these ideal conditions in the gut microbiome. Less inflammation in the gut creates less stress and suppression of neurotransmitters. Monitoring food intake from dining halls, snacks and cafes will help prevent this catalyst event, preserving mental and physical health.
For More Information:
What's the difference between fat and calories?
Trans fat is double trouble for heart health
The truth about fats: the good, the bad, and the in-between