Mums who eat the kinds of foods that contain hydrogenated fats, such as takeaways, snacks, cakes and sweets when they are pregnant or breastfeeding could end up with heavier babies.

According to the latest research which is published in the journal Lipids in Health and Disease a diet rich in hydrogenated fats and oils – which help extend the shelf life of many processed foods – can lead to the creation of trans fats which previous studies have shown can increase the risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The study suggests that there is a direct link between the level of trans fat eaten by nursing mothers and the level of these fats in their breast milk. The researchers also point out that other studies have suggested that babies exposed to trans fatty acids in the womb and during lactation could be negatively affected into adulthood.

This entry was posted on Sunday, June 1st, 2008 at 3:30 am and is filed under Babies, Children's Health, In the News, Pregnancy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.