Saturated fat

Saturated fat

Saturated fat is fat that consists of triglycerides containing only saturated fatty acids.

Foods that contain a high proportion of saturated fat are butter, lard, coconut oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernel oil, dairy products (especially cream and cheese), meat, chocolate, and some prepared foods.

Despite the many studies that point to saturated fat as a dietary villan that increases heart disease risk, new research on certain saturated fats (particularly those in coconut oil) show nutritional promise for this maligned substance.

Frank B. Hu, M.D., Meir J. Stampfer, M.D., JoAnn E. Manson, M.D., Eric Rimm, Sc.D., Graham A. Colditz, M.D., Bernard A. Rosner, Ph.D., Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., and Walter C. Willett, M.D. Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women N Engl J Med 1998 Volume 337:1491–1499 November 20, 1997

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