trans fatty acid
1
4.0
- noun
- /trænz ˈfæti ˈæsɪd/
- Specialized
:
ácido graso trans
- It is advisable to limit your intake of trans fatty acids, especially those found in fried foods.
- fats and trans fatty acids
- foods containing trans fatty acids
- high in trans fatty acids
Examples
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Nutritionists warn that consuming too many trans fatty acids can lead to serious health issues.
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Most commercially baked goods contain some level of trans fatty acid as a result of partial hydrogenation.
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Nutritionists recommend avoiding foods high in trans fatty acids for better heart health.
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The label warned that the product was free from trans fatty acids.
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Many snacks contain trans fatty acids that can be harmful.
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The label shows that this product has trans fatty acids.
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Many packaged foods contain trans fatty acids that may increase the risk of heart disease.
How Unhealthy
- Specialized
1
4.0
- Informal
- Specialized
- Specialized
1
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
Although 'fatty' and 'acid' are transparent, the element 'trans' is a technical chemical prefix indicating a specific geometric/isomeric form (and often hydrogenation) that a B1 learner who only knows the surface meanings would not infer. The full sense — a particular chemically altered subtype of fatty acid associated with processed foods and health risks — is specialized and not predictable from the constituents alone.
Etymology
Trans fatty acid comes from the word trans, which means 'across' or 'on the opposite side', because processing can flip parts of the fat into that position. This small change makes the fat straighter and act differently in the body, which is why foods with trans fatty acids are seen as unhealthy and linked to heart problems.