Nature Walk (photo by Gracey, courtesy of morguefile.com)

“That great big sucking sound you hear is the sound of partially hydrogenated oil leaving the American food supply,” so begins a statement from Michael F. Jacobson, Executive Director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The statement refers to the signing of legislation making California the first state in the nation to require its restaurant foods to be free of artificial trans fat. Those fats are widely seen as culprits in America’s obesity epidemic and the country's high rate of deadly heart disease. One million Americans die of heart disease every year.

According to CSPI, “New York City, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other local governments have passed trans fat bans in the past two years.”

The statement from Mr. Jacobson makes it clear that much more needs to be done:

Though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proven to be impervious to embarrassment, perhaps California’s move today will at long last shame the agency into getting rid of artificial trans fat nationwide. It has the authority to do, but has been stalling on taking action on a regulatory petition we filed with the agency four years ago.

Maybe it’s time to do your body a favor and begin eating less unhealthy fats, while getting more physically active. You’ll get healthier, feel better, look better, and set a great example for the people you love. Remember, if you need to get more physically active you don’t have to rush out and sign up for punishing workouts at a fitness club. A nice walk in the woods under the shade of the trees will do you a world of good.

If you’d like to read the full statement from CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson go to: California Terminates Artificial Trans Fat!