Trans fat ban as public health experiment
Students will answer questions based on the Science News article "Data back ban of artificial trans fats," with a special focus on data collected and analyzed by researchers.
Educator Guide: Data Back Ban of Artificial Trans Fats
OIL OPT OUT Starting in 2007, areas of New York restricted the use of partially hydrogenated oils in eateries, eliminating artificial trans fats from foods like these french fries. As a result, residents experienced fewer heart attacks and strokes, a new study suggests.
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About this guide
The article “Data back ban of artificial trans fats” summarizes new research showing that banning artificial trans fats in foods could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Students can focus on details reported in the article, follow connections to earlier articles about trans fats research, engage in a classroom discussion of related scientific and government policy questions and make connections between the science of food and their health. Students can also conduct their own experiments to analyze foods for fats and then research the types of fats within different foods to make recommendations about dietary consumption.
This Guide Includes:
Search for stories on trans fats
Students will search the Science News archive for additional articles related to trans fats.
A lesson in lipids
These discussion prompts ask students to think in more detail about lipids, their hydrogenation and related scientific areas.
Greasy spots
Students will conduct their own experiments to analyze a variety of foods for the presence of fats, as well as researching types of fat and relating their findings to human health.