Taking artificial trans fats off the menu reduces hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke, suggests a study that examined what happened after several areas in New York restricted the fats’ use. At least three years after the artificial trans fats restrictions took effect, admission rates for heart attacks and strokes combined dropped an additional 6.2 percent among residents of restricted counties versus non-restricted counties. It is highly likely that the reduction in admission rates for heart attacks and stroke together, and heart attacks alone, is due to the artificial trans fats restrictions, says Brandt.