Tuesday's Tip

Today's tip: avoid hydrogenated oils.

Hydrogenated fats and oils are like high fructose corn syrup. They are everywhere and have been accepted as part of the American diet. Accepted does not mean acceptable.

Hydrogenated oils are liquid fats that have been injected with hydrogen gas at high temperatures under high pressure to make them solid at room temperature. They include margarine and shortening. If you "fully hydrogenate" you create a solid. If you "partially hydrogenate" you create a consistency like butter.

And while hydrogenated oils have been linked to everything from diabetes to cancer to obesity to coronary disease, I'm still stuck with the fact that people are "creating" food for us. I use butter for everything. Or coconut oil. But in most recipes, I use butter. On my toast, butter. Under my fig preserves on my biscuits, butter.

You can learn more about this here, here, and here.