Eating baked goods, French fries, cookies, chips, hard margarine? Chances are these processed foods contain trans fatty acids, which may be more damaging to your heart health than saturated fats.

Very little trans fats is found in food in its natural form. They are formed by a process called hydrogenation, when liquid oils are converted to solid fats. This process used to solidify oils at room temperature also prevents fat from turning rancid and prolongs shelf life.

Trans fats are now listed on food labels in Canada because of the health hazard, but in the United Stated you need to watch out for products that show the words shortening, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats on the ingredient list. Some European countries have banned the use of trans fats completely.