No more trans fats in California

The incredible speed with which nutrition science--and then corresponding legislation--is changing can give you whiplash. I'll be interested to see how the logistics of California's trans fat ban play out, all relevant baked goods supposedly off the shelves by 2011. New York City's trans fat ban, which began July 1 of this year, has seemed to lack teeth, with citations issued being essentially warnings thus far.

No doubt, the ban will shorten the shelf life of some food products, but the payoff will be big. Trans fats lower HDL (good) cholesterol and increase LDL (bad) cholesterol; increase rigidity and clogging of arteries; cause insulin resistance; and contribute to Type 2 diabetes. The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that eliminating trans fats could prevent between 6 and 19 percent of heart attacks and related deaths each year.

And now, for something totally different, here's how to close a [trans fat-free] chip bag without a chip clip. Like origami, only more practical.

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