SATURATED FATS

We call saturated fats our four legged fats.  They are found in red meats, full fat dairy products, palm and coconut oils and some in poultry and other animal products.  A "saturated fat" means that it is saturated with hydrogen.  All fats are mixtures of carbon, hydrogen, and a little oxygen.  These mixtures, called fatty acids, are classified according to the amount of hydrogen they contain.  If a fatty acid contains all the hydrogen it can, it is said to be saturated.  If it does not, it is said to be unsaturated.  Saturated fat is unhealthy.  When you eat saturated fat it ages your body.  These fats promote the first stage of arterial aging and cardiovascular disease.  They make it easier for the level of bad cholesterol to rise in the bloodstream.  Saturated fat is thought to be the biggest dietary contributor to an elevated level of cholesterol in the blood.