Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 08:30 - 19:00 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about Coronavirus? Click here for more information. Please note that due to exceptional circumstances our opening hours are currently 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday. We apologise for any inconvenience.
22 September 2015 09:43
Researchers say a ban on trans fats would save lives
Hundreds of lives a year could be saved by introducing a ban on trans fats in processed food, researchers are claiming.
Trans fats occur naturally in some meats and products such as whole milk.
But an artificial form - produced from plant oils - is used by some manufacturers to prolong the shelf-life of various processed food products and to enhance their taste and texture.
Yet a high intake of trans fatty acids, which are more prevalent in cheaper products, has also been associated with a greater risk of developing heart disease.
Coronary heart disease can have a major impact on people's lifestyles but it need not prevent them going on holiday, protected by a good medical travel insurance policy.
The researchers say they believe a total ban on the fats in processed foods could prevent or postpone around 7,200 deaths from heart disease between now and the end of the decade - in England alone.
The team, which includes experts from Oxford University and Liverpool University's Department of Public Health and Policy, say voluntary pledges from the industry do not go far enough, heightening the need for decisive action in the form of a total ban on the fats in processed foods.
At the moment, manufacturers have no legal obligation to label trans fats although people are advised to check for hydrogenated vegetable oils or hydrogenated fats on products' lists of ingredients.
The study - published in the British Medical Journal - estimates that improving labelling or removing the fats from fast food and restaurant meals could prevent up to 3,500 deaths from coronary heart disease.
But the researchers maintain the most effective policy would be to introduce an outright ban on trans fats in processed food.
Yet some experts have questioned the estimate on how many lives could be saved by outlawing the fats from processed food, claiming that consumption is falling and is within recommended limits.
Produced through a process known as hydrogenation, industrial trans fats are said to increase levels of so-called 'bad' cholesterol, while lowering levels of 'good' cholesterol in the blood.
28 February 2020
Keep your carbon footprint in check and travel green with our eco-friendly travel tips.
[more...]
25 February 2020
For true carefree travel, decide on a destination that's kinder to the planet...
20 February 2020
Travel into the future and not just through time-zones, with destinations shaping urban living.
National Anthem Day falls on the 3rd March, so what better excuse is there to delve into into the world of music and motherland?
Discover five alternative places to get down on one knee this leap year.
Two-wheels are better than none. Check out our favourite cities best explored from a saddle.
04 February 2020
Make your phone the perfect travel companion for the new year...
Bohemian boulevards and ornate opera houses await away from the Six Nations action.
Kite Flying Day falls on 8th February. What better time is there to plan your next trip through the skies?
10 February 2020
With Ferris Wheel Day on 14th February, there's never been a better excuse to enjoy a foreign skyline.
Looking for a Valentine's getaway but want to avoid the clichés? Try one these alternative romantic destinations...
27 January 2020
With ancient architecture and marble marvels at every turn, there are plenty of reasons to get onside with our plans away from the rugby in Rome.