The Zone Diet Warns: Trans Fats!

Watch Out for Trans Fats

Trans fats are often added to commercially baked products, margarine, and other packaged foods to increase their shelf life and improve their texture. Considered to be the unhealthiest of all fats, these partially hydrogenated oils can send your "bad" cholesterol levels soaring, raising your risk of heart disease and putting you squarely out of the Zone Diet . The good news? Food labels are now required by the FDA to list the total amount of fat in a food -- including how much of a specific fat (such as trans fat) makes up that number. In response, some food manufacturers and fast food restaurants, like Frito-Lay and McDonald's, are retooling their recipes to remove those trans fats.

What does this mean for you? Even though there are no forbidden foods on the Zone Diet , you should try to avoid foods such as chips, cookies, crackers, pastries, and doughnuts as much as possible, since they not only contain bad fats, but unfavorable carbs, too. If you do indulge in a store-bought cookie or two every now and then, start reading the labels on the package carefully, and opt for a brand that has no (or few) trans fats. Another smart way to avoid trans fats: When eating in restaurants, avoid menu items that are deep fried, such as French fries and fried chicken, which are often cooked in unhealthy partially hydrogenated oils. Remember, mindful eating is what will keep you in the Zone.