Saturated Fatty Acids Are Important

Saturated Fatty Acids and Fats

Saturated fatty acids are found as triglycerides in animal fats and some plant oils. Three fatty acids are chemically combined with one molecule of glycerol. They are transported and stored in this form.

When fatty acids are needed for a particular task, one or more fatty acids are removed from the glycerol carrier.

Role of Saturated Fatty Acids

They constitute at least 50% of cell membranes. Not enough saturated fat can result in leaky membranes.

For calcium to be available for the need of bones and teeth at least 50% of dietary fat should be saturated. Not enough saturated fatty acids may mean calcium will not be available where needed.

All the vitamin D recommended in TV ads may be a waste if there is not enough saturated fatty acids available in the diet.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin as are vitamin A, and vitamin E as well.

Saturated fatty acids protect the liver from alcohol and other toxins.

They lower Lp(a), a substance that indicates proneness to heart disease.

Short and medium chain saturated fatty acids have important antimicrobial activities in the intestinal tract controlling pathogenic bacteria.

Eighteen carbon stearic acid, and 16 carbon palmitic acid, both saturated, are preferred foods for the heart. The fat around the heart is highly saturated and this fat is utilized by the heart in times of stress.

They are needed for the proper utilization of the essential fatty acids. Elongated omega 3 fatty acids are retained in the tissues better when adequate amounts of saturated fats are present.

Sources of Saturated Fatty Acids

Butter has saturated fatty acid chains of 4 to 6 carbons in length. Four carbon butyric acid is unique to butter. The short and medium chain fatty acids are readily absorbed by the small intestine. In the liver they can be converted to energy.

Several of the saturated fatty acids found in butter and coconut oil support the immune system, have antimicrobial, anti-tumor and antifungal properties.

Lauric acid, a 12 carbon medium chain length saturated fatty acid, is found in coconut and palm oils, and in small amounts in butter.

Lauric acid cannot be produced by the human body except in mothers milk. It is important in helping baby resist infections until its immune system, with adequate nutrition, can protect the child.

Sources of saturated fatty acids are dairy, including butter and cheese, coconut oil, palm oil, beef tallow and pork lard. One source says that pork lard has an ideal mix of fats for human use.

Palmitic acid, a 16 carbon saturated fatty acid is found in many neutral fats. Stearic acid, an 18 carbon saturated fatty acid, is found in beef tallow and pork lard.

Saturated Fats Are Not Villains But Can Be Heroes

Saturated fats, and cholesterol, have been vilified by the food processing industries, the FDA, the American Heart Association, and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Yet these organizations statements are not supported by the scientific literature.

The lack of saturated fats in the diet is one of several factors that have led to the modern nutritional diseases of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. And these statements are supported by the scientific literature.

The above material is covered in greater detail in The Modern Nutritional Diseases by Fred and Alice Ottoboni, and Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon with Mary Enig, Ph.D.

Saturated fats are necessary for proper utilization of essential fatty acids.

The Home Page where Nutritional Diseases are defined.