It's a killer and it's in your food - so how do you spot trans fat and make sure you don't eat it? Reading labels is your only weapon in the fight against trans fat in your diet unless you find a trans fat free restaurant or supermarket you can trust.

Truth is that many store-bought and restaurant foods may contain trans fats unless they are labeled 'trans fat free' or unless they have no partially hydrogenated vegetable oils on their ingredients label. Watch out when you buy:

Baked goods (cookies, crackers, cakes, pies, muffins, some breads such as hamburger buns).

Margarine (especially stick margarine), vegetable shortening, and commercial fry oils.

Pre-mixed products (cake, pancake, and chocolate drink mix; pizza dough).

Deep-fried and pre-fried foods (doughnuts; french fries; fried chicken, fish sticks, and chicken nuggets; taco shells).

Snack foods (potato, corn, and tortilla chips; candy; packaged or microwave popcorn).

Come to think of it - what are you doing eating this stuff anyway? If you chose to stop eating any food with trans fat in it - just think of the weight you'd lose and how much better your skin would look. You could start a whole new diet craze.

OK we all like some of these things at least some of the time and there are good brands out there without any trans fats. You've got to read food labels to be sure. Or – if partially hydrogenated vegetable oil or shortening is on the label and you just can't resist – at least go for the product with the lowest amounts (labels list ingredients from most to least).

Things will get easier - at least in the United States. Starting in 2006, the FDA has required that all “Nutrition Facts” labels on food list trans fat content. Don't forget - if partially hydrogenated oil is on the label, the food does contain trans fat. And as far as your health is concerned a low trans fat diet is not good enough - you need to be totally 'trans fat free'.

Becoming trans fat free is only part of the story. To age well you need to eat well which means a heart-healthy and skin-healthy diet, with low saturated fat, large amounts of fruit and vegetables, fresh juices, whole grains, and proteins from fish and lean meat.

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