TEXT D Imagine eating everything
delicious you want-with none of the fat. That would be great, wouldn’t
it New "fake fat" products appeared on store shelve in the
United States recently, but not everyone is happy about it. Makers of the
products, which contain a compound called olestra, say food manufacturers can
now eliminate fat from certain foods. Critics, however, say the new. eliminate
can rob the body of essential vitamins and nutrients and can also cause
unpleasant side effects in some people. So it’s up to decide whether the new
fat-free products taste good enough to keep eating. Chemists
discovered olestra in tile late 1960s, when they were searching for a fat
that could be digested by infants more easily. Instead of finding the desired
Fat, the researchers created a fat that can’t be digested at all.
Normally, special chemicals in the intestines "grab" molecules of regular
fat and break them down so they can be used by the body. A molecule of
regular fat is made up of three molecules of substances called fatty
acids. The fatty acids are absorbed by the intestines and bring
with them the essential vitamins A, D, E, and K. When fat molecules are present
in the intestines with any of those vitamins, the vitamins attach to tbe
molecules and are carried into the bloodstream. Olestra, which
is made from six to eight molecules of fatty acids, is too large for the
intestines to absorb. It just slides through the intestines without being broken
down. Manufacturers say it’s that ability to slide unchanged through the
intestines that makes olestra so valuable as a fat substitute. It provides
consumers with the taste of regular fat without any bad effects on the body. But
critics say olestra can prevent vitamins A, D, E, and K from being absorbed. It
can also prevent the absorption of carotenoids, compounds that may reduce the
risk of cancer, heart disease, etc. Manufacturers are
adding vitamins A, D, E, and K as well as carotenoids to their products now.
Even so, some nutritionists are still concerned that people might eat unlimited
amounts of food made with the fat substitute without worrying about how many
calories they are consuming. What is a possible negative effect of olestra according to some crit ics
A.It may impair the digestive system. B.It may affect the overall fat intake. C.It may increase the risk of cancer. D.It may spoil the consumers’ appetite.