Spreading irritability

As the foods that you eat become more and more processed, so increases the chances that you are eating something synthetic. In recent times trans fatty acids, or trans fats, have come under the health spotlight (or more accurately the disease spotlight) to the extent that many fast food companies have moved to ensure that their products are trans fat free. If this is genuine its good news because a new study has suggested that trans fats are not only bad news for your body but for mood as well.

Trans fats are found in processed food that has been hydrogenated. This is a process of pumping hydrogen through unsaturated fats that are liquid at room temperature in order to make them solid. Many processed foods contain trans fats and margarines have been a major source of trans fats in the past. In recent times many margarine makers have moved to remove trans fats from their product and declare as much on the ingredients list. If there is no mention of trans fats on your margarine container, just call the manufacturer to check if there are still trans fats present. Concerns have been raised around trans fats causing insulin resistance (contributing to type 2 diabetes), disturbing blood fats, raising oxidation, increasing inflammation, and being bad for your heart. Now it seems they could also be involved in aggression and irritability.

In the new study 947 people completed questionnaires about their dietary habits and used an “overt aggression” scale to record recent aggressive behaviours. They measured people’s conflict tactics, history of aggression, irritability, and impatience.

After adjusting the results to account for age, sex, tobacco use, alcohol use, and education level it emerged that higher trans fatty acid consumption is consistently associated with aggression and irritability.

This doesn’t prove that trans fats cause aggression. Maybe people who are aggressive and irritable will be more likely to choose the kind of foods that contain trans fats? Either way, it’s another reason to cut down on your trans fats and reduce your intake of processed food. Maybe homemade muesli, black unsweetened organic coffee (OK, my personal preference coming out there), and half a grapefruit might be a happier way to start the day.

The other thing of course, is that the next time you are the victim of road rage, as the aggressor is gesticulating wildly at you just calmly wind down your window and with a smile suggest, “Perhaps you ought to cut down on your trans fats?” Aggro Joe won’t have a clue what you are talking about of course but he will be perplexed enough to stop his tirade and you will be able to continue on your way filled with the quiet, warm glow of intellectual conquest.