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Saturated Fats Are Essential For HealthSaturated Fatty Acids Essential For Life Processes During the 1970’s some researchers fed animals rapeseed and canola oils. The animals developed heart lesions. They were able to reverse these disease conditions by adding saturated fats to the animal’s diet. Continuing research indicated that 25% of the fat intake needed to be saturated fat. They also found that lard had the best mix of saturated fats for animal and human diets. There are certain saturated fatty acids that are needed for signaling from cell membrane receptors to various locations within the cell. This signaling has profound effects on the cell but also can result in effects important to the body as a whole. The saturated fatty acids that are used in this signaling process include lauric acid, a 12 carbon saturated fatty acid, myristic acid, a 14 carbon saturated fatty acid, and palmitic acid, a 16 carbon saturated fatty acid. Lauric acid is found in small amounts in butterfat, and in large amounts in coconut oil. Myristic acid is found in coconut oil and dairy fats. Palm oil is found in large amounts in Red Palm oil, and in animal and dairy fats. Stearic acid is found in animal tallows. G-Protein Receptors and Saturated Fatty Acids The cell membrane receptor proteins on which these fatty acids exert their effects are called G-protein receptors. They are like automatic switches which are activated when signaling molecules, such as these fatty acids, react with their particular site on the G-protein receptors. The switches are automatically reset when cellular conditions are met until the next signaling molecule comes along. Researchers studied white blood cells from young and old donors. White blood cells are an important part of the immune system. They determined that age related decline of white cell function correlated with the loss of myristic and palmitic acids. When these fats were added back proper function of the white blood cells was restored. Saturated Fatty Acids and Resistance to Cancer With adequate myristic acid in the diet, the body has the ability to suppress production of tumors from lung cancer if a gene called fus 1 is present, and myristic acid is attached to its receptor on the fus 1 protein. The loss of myristic acid in the diet can result in immune system dysfunction, including cancer. This loss is quite likely because todays dietitians mistakenly call for less saturated fat in our diets G-proteins come in different forms. When myristic acid is chemically attached to an alpha sub unit of a particular G-protein, it allows for the binding to an enzyme called adenylate cyclase. This then allows for the amplification of important hormone signals. Myristic acid is found in coconut oil and in dairy fats which westerners are taught to avoid. We are taught that saturated fats cause high cholesterol levels and heart disease which has never been proven. Saturated Fats and Antimicrobial Activity Lauric acid has important antimicrobial activity by itself and as a monoglyceride. Lauric acid is able to kill pathogenic bacteria or to prevent them from having their deadly effects on bodily tissues. It also can have a signaling effect, or stabilizing function, when attached to certain proteins in a manner similar to that of myristic and palmitic acids. Apparently stearic acid, an 18 carbon saturated fatty acid, can function similarly to that of the other saturated fatty acids. Research Ignored by Certain Industries Research such as the above is ignored by the by the food processing industry and by the pharmaceutical drug industry. The food processing industry can’t do much with animal fats and proteins, but they can do a lot with vegetable oils. Unfortunately most of what they do makes the product less fit for human consumption and healthy nutrition. The data referred to above came from an article entitled The Importance of Saturated Fats for Biological Function, by Mary G Enig, Ph.D. The article first appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Spring 2004.
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