University of Health Sciences (SBU) Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Assoc. Dr. Elvan Yılmaz Akyüz, in her statement, said that trans fatty acids have been included in human nutrition for many years because they are found in small amounts in the milk and fat of ruminant animals such as cows and sheep.
Stating that industrially produced trans fats can be consumed at high rates depending on the amount in preferred packaged products and ready-made foods, Akyüz pointed out that this situation causes great health risks, especially for pregnant and lactating women, babies and children.
Breast milk fat, the main energy source
Breast milk fat is the main energy source in infant feeding. In addition, its unique structure, types and ratios of fatty acids are of vital importance in the development of the baby. Fatty acids in breast milk play a key role in growth and development, they are necessary for the development of cells in all tissues, especially the brain, retina and nerves.
High-fat diet and consumption of packaged foods, especially high in trans fatty acid content, changes the fatty acid content of breast milk and increases the amount of trans fatty acids. It is stated that babies fed with this milk may experience permanent damage in the following years. It is important for the mother to have a healthy diet not only during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but also before becoming pregnant.
In order to limit trans fat consumption, fried foods, packaged products and fast food should be avoided as much as possible. When buying packaged products, care should be taken to gain the habit of reading labels and to choose products that do not contain trans fat. Making a Mediterranean-style diet rich in antioxidants, rich in vegetables, fruits and olive oil, a lifestyle in order to remove harmful substances taken from the body and render them harmless, will help the new generations to have stronger genetic structures and less risk against diseases.
