Although you may have commonly heard that some fats have positive health effects, a recent study has shown that trans fats might not be one of them.

The new data, which was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2014, reportedly found that whatever levels of trans fat being consumed by people has a harmful effect on memory, according to the website foodnavigator.com.

"Foods have different effects on oxidative stress and cell energy," explained Professor Beatrice Golomb from the University of California-San Diego, who led the research.

She continued, "In a previous study, we found chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants and positively impacts cell energy, is linked to better word memory in young to middle-aged adults. In this study, we looked at whether trans fats, who are pro-oxidant and linked adversely to cell energy, might show the opposite effect. And they did."

Scientists examined 1,000 working-age men who were healthy, showing them 104 cards with words on them and asking with each card whether the words were new or had been repeated on a previous card, according to the media outlet Science Recorder.

The results of the study were shocking as scientists reportedly found that those with a lot of trans fat in their system remembered significantly fewer words than those with not as much. Researchers reportedly found that a person remembered .76 fewer words for each gram of trans fat eaten per day compared with those who ate the least.

"Trans fats were most strongly linked to worse memory, in young and middle-aged men, during their working and career-building years," stated Golomb.

She continued, "From a health standpoint, trans fat consumption has been linked to higher body weight, more aggression and heart disease. As I tell patients, while trans fats increase the shelf life of foods, they reduce the shelf life of people."