Skip to main content

What is Saturated Fat?

By
To understand the different types of fat like saturated and unsaturated you need to know a little bit about chemistry.

The main part of fat in our diet and in the body are in the form of triglycerides. The rest is cholesterol, waxes and phospholipids. All triglycerides are made up of a fork-like structure called glycerol and 3 building blocks called fatty acids.

Fatty acids are classified according to the number of double bonds they possess. Saturated fats contain no double bond, monounsaturated fats contain one and polyunsaturated fats contain two or more.

These fatty acids are responsible for the physical properties of the fat. As a rough guide, saturates are solid at room temperature and tend to be derived from animal sources. Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and are usually vegetable fats like oils.

The body can make all the fatty acids it needs except for two, known as essential fatty acids: alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid. These polyunsaturated fatty acids must be supplied in the diet. Good sources on these fatty acids are vegetable oils and also fish.A high intake of saturated fat, has been associated with a raised blood cholesterol level, which is one of the risk factors for coronary heart disease.

The saturated fat should not be more than 10% of total energy intake. Saturated fat is present in butter, cheese, meat, meat products (sausages, hamburgers), full-fat milk and yoghurt but also in vegetable sources such as coconut and palm oil.

www.eufic.org
www.foodexperts.net

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is too much soy bad for men?

By
While soy may be beneficial to women in a variety of ways, research in monkeys suggests that it could have an adverse effect on the behavior of men, according to researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Reporting in the current issue of the scientific journal Hormones and Behavior, the researchers found that in male monkeys, "long-term consumption of a diet rich in soy isoflavones can have marked influences on patterns of aggression and social behavior." Isoflavones are a naturally occurring plant estrogen in soy protein. "Although considerable attention has been directed at the potentially beneficial effects of isoflavones in reducing the risk of various cancers, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and postmenopausal symptoms, less effort has been invested in characterizing neurobehavioral effects," according to the study.
4 comments
Read more

How to help your overweight child

By
HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY habits are key to your child's well-being. Eating too much and exercising too little can lead to overweight and related health problems that can follow children into adult years. You can take an active role in helping your child-and your whole family-learn healthy eating and physical activity habits that may last for a lifetime. IS MY CHILD OVERWEIGHT? Because children grow at different rates at different times, it is not always easy to tell if a child is overweight. If you think that your child is overweight, talk to your health care provider. Your health care provider can measure your child's height and weight and tell you if your child is in a healthy range. HOW CAN I HELP MY OVERWEIGHT CHILD? Involve the whole family in building healthy eating and physical activity habits. It benefits everyone and does not single out the child who is overweight. Try to: - Be supportive - Encourage healthy eating habits - Encourage daily ph
Post a Comment
Read more

Grapefruit and weight loss

By
The grapefruit diet is not a myth. That's what a new study by the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic confirmed. Researchers there found that the simple act of adding grapefruit and grapefruit juice to one's diet can result in weight loss. The 12-week pilot study, led by Dr. Ken Fujioka, monitored weight and metabolic factors, such as insulin secretion, of the 100 men and women who participated in the Scripps Clinic 'Grapefruit Diet' study. On average, participants who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds, while those who drank a serving of grapefruit juice three times a day lost 3.3 pounds. However, many patients in the study lost more than 10 pounds.
Post a Comment
Read more