What is saturated Fat?!
Question: I know trans fat is absloutly BAD for you no matter what.
but then I think so is sat. fat...but sometimes I see it "okay" fat.
not as bad. what exactly is that kind of fat??
Answers: I know trans fat is absloutly BAD for you no matter what.
but then I think so is sat. fat...but sometimes I see it "okay" fat.
not as bad. what exactly is that kind of fat??
It has to do with "saturation" of hydrogen molecules. Fat is made up of nothing but carbon and hydrogen. Each carbon atom is chained together in a line, with hydrogen molecules attached as well. Think of it like a fuzzy caterpillar, almost.
Without going into a lengthy explanation, a saturated fat has as many hydrogen molecules attached to it as possible, while an unsaturated fat has some room for more. Because of the structure of the molecules, a saturated fat will form into a solid at room temperature. Lard, butter, and cheese are saturated fat, and milk has saturated fat in it. (If you've ever seen milk that was way past its expiration date, you've seen it can get solid!) Unsaturated fats form as liquid. Olive and vegetable oil, for instance. This is the easiest way to remember it - for the most part, saturated fats are solids, unsaturated fats are liquids.
A trans fat is an unsaturated fat that is basically transformed into a saturated one through a manmade process. Because of the nature of this process, and because it's not a natural occurrence, these are the worst fats for you. Margerine and shortening are examples of these. Because of their chemical structure, these attack your body worse than saturated fats, which are still bad for you. Think about it - a molecule that forms a solid will be a lot harder and rigid than once that forms as a liquid.
Basically, you can think of them as three different fats. Trans fats should always be avoided, you're right about that. They're horrible for you. Once could almost describe them as mean! Saturated fats aren't good for you, but in a very small amount, they're okay. (And they do taste good.) But try to limit them whenever you can. But fat is still an essential nutrient for a balanced diet, so you shouldn't cut it altogether. Stick with unsaturated fats as the majority of your fat intake.
it's fat that is solid at room temp,
Short answer is any fat that is solid at room temperature.
While it's better for you to eat unsaturated fats such as olive and grapeseed oils, it's better to have a saturated fat (butter) than margarine (trans-fat).
If you must eat margarine, see if you can find a "non-hydrogenated" margarine. This is better for you than butter, but not as good as an unsaturated fat like olive oil.