John Myers
Ever heard of saturated fat in relation to cholesterol and wondering if it’s healthy? Then read on: We have the answer and useful information for you.
What are saturated fats?
Many people dig deeper into good fatty acids when trying to avoid high cholesterol. Saturated fats can help raise it, while unsaturated fats can lower it. Above all, monounsaturated fatty acids, such as those found in high-quality vegetable oils, are considered essential for a healthy diet. But how do the different fats differ? Chemically, fatty acids are made up of carbon atoms arranged in chains. Depending on the number, they have a short-chain or long-chain structure. The terms saturated and unsaturated refer to the type of compound: Saturated fatty acids have one single bond, while monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
What foods are they in?
What sounds complicated is relatively simple in nutritional practice. You can usually recognize saturated fatty acids, which are considered less healthy, by the fact that they are solid at room temperature. The stick of butter is the prime example, but so are coconut and palm kernel fat in block form.
Unsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, are found in liquid oil, although oil is not the same as oil in terms of nutritional value. Our nutrition expert will explain which cooking oils are particularly healthy. Among other things, it depends on the content of the much-cited Omega 3. Saturated fats are found in many foods. Sausages, meat, fatty cheeses, and dairy products as well as baked goods made from high-fat dough contain a particularly large amount of it.
Simple kitchen tips to avoid saturated fats
With saturated fats hiding in many convenience foods, the simplest rule to avoid is to cook at home as much as possible, using vegetable oils. With a high proportion of vegetables and fruit on the list of ingredients, you are definitely on the safe side, as these foods are usually low in fat or contain unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, give preference to lean meat and sausages, such as boiled ham instead of salami. Be careful with sweets such as chocolate bars, pastries, and nut nougat spreads: they often contain a lot of saturated fat. Some manufacturers are now increasingly using sal fat in their sweets. This is a more sustainable and comparatively healthier alternative to hydrogenated palm fat.
