• Baked goods, such as donuts, often contain hydrogenated oils.donuts with spinkles image by James Insogna from Fotolia.com
  
  Hydrogenated oils, or vegetable oils processed to be more solid, are common in a variety of foods. While vegetable oils are normally fairly heart-healthy, the hydrogenation process affects their composition, creating trans-fatty acids. These trans-fats can increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the blood and decrease HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Knowing what types of foods are likely to contain hydrogenated oils can help consumers make healthier choices.
  
  

Margarine

• Margarine, shortening and other solid fat products produced from vegetable oils contain significant amounts of hydrogenated oils. A few spreads and margarines contain lower levels of hydrogenated fats, but it's important to read the labels to be sure. In the United States, all products must show their saturated fat content on the Nutrition Facts label.
  
  

Baked Goods

• Many commercial baked goods, including cakes, cookies, bread and tortillas, contain hydrogenated oils. These fats provide a better texture and allow the baked goods to keep longer than liquid vegetable oils. Unlike solid animal fats, such as butter, tallow and lard, they are safe for consumption by vegans and people who adhere to religious dietary laws. However, the hydrogenated fats used in baked goods can still have a detrimental effect on blood sugar levels.
  
  

Non-Dairy Products

• Products such as non-dairy whipped topping, commercial frostings and non-dairy creamer get their fatty feel from hydrogenated oils. The website 3fatchicks.com recommends replacing these products with non-hydrogenated alternatives. Some vegan non-dairy products contain no hydrogenated oils but have a similar taste to that of their less-healthy cousins.
  
  

Peanut Butter

• Most commercial peanut butter brands contain hydrogenated oils to prevent separation in the jar. Natural brands, grind-your-own, and peanut butter ground in-store are less likely to contain hydrogenated fats. In general, if the oil tends to separate out of the peanut butter, it's free from these processed oils.
  
  

Ice Cream

• Many ice creams also contain trans fats to improve their mouth-feel. Hydrogenated fats may be found not only in the ice cream itself but also in any add-ins it contains, such as chocolate candies. Take care to read the ingredients for all components of the ice cream before making a purchase.