Saturated fat: Good for you?

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Oct 26th 2007 10:13AM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

It's a well known fact that all fats aren't created equal. Trans fat? The worst fat you can possibly consume. Monosaturated fats? They're as good as it gets. Saturated fat? Most are quick to think this kind of fat is evil, but Men's Health thinks this answer might be too hasty -- maybe saturated fat isn't the devil we make it out to be?

Consider these pros of saturated fats:

People on the Atkin's diet are healthier than most and they consume a lot of saturated fat.
All saturated fats raise HDL (good) Cholesterol, while only some raise LDL (bad) cholesterol
Since the 1970s, American men have decreased the amount of saturated fats they consume significantly. Yet rates of heart disease and obesity have soared, despite claims that saturated fat is the cause of these problems.

For more interesting facts on saturated fat, read the full article.

Top sources of saturated fats(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Source

Comments (13)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jen 10-26-2007 @ 9:27PM

Mary Enig, PhD is the best source on which fats are healthy and which are not. I recommend reading her book, "Know Your Fats : The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol." She also wrote "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" which is not just about weight loss but also has great information about good nutrition in general. She also wrote parts of the book "Nourishing Traditions." Also see http://www.westonaprice.org I have some posts on my blog that summarize what she says in Nourishing Traditions about things like butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc. See them here: http://jstevens.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/is-coconut-oil-healthy/
http://jstevens.wordpress.com/2007/09/02/is-olive-oil-healthy/

marcie0305 10-26-2007 @ 9:34PM

Yes! I say yes, lots of fats are good for you (not trans) - for more read this! http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/2007/09/eat-fat-to-lose-fat.html

:) Marcie

Martin 10-29-2007 @ 9:39PM

Human beings need a certain amount of fat for their survival, without fat in your diet, you basically can't survive. And while too much saturated fat is certainly bad, a certain amount is healthy and necessary. Otherwise you miss a lot of important nutrients.

I think a big part of the reason why people are quick to call saturated fats "evil" is because of the whole obesity epidemic. People eat too much of them, get fat, and then everybody feels we should go to the other extreme and eat no fats at all. Which only creates new problems.

SaturatedFatsDomino 10-29-2007 @ 10:10PM

"Saturated fat: Good for you?"

So in the end the point is: Eat whatever the hell you want, you're going to die anyway!

Rick 10-29-2007 @ 9:44PM

I have been saying for years that the best way to stay healthy is just 2 simple things. One is a diet of moderation that consists of everything and not just the "healthy" stuff (fruits, veggies, whole grain, low fat)....but you should have a little fat (all kinds), a little sugar, a little alcohol, a little caffiene, etc, etc, all in moderation.
And the other thing is just basic regular exercise. Just a walk around the block, take the stairs if you can, park in the back of the parking lot and do things that are active. I am not saying to do this to become a body builder or fitness model. But to just live a healthy lifestyle. I do not believe there is any magic to it other then that. People just need to learn moderation, not be lazy and take responsibility for their own health and make wise choices.

Lloyd Reich 10-29-2007 @ 10:10PM

Here's yet another nice bit of evidence that the "food cops" are 'way off the beam - we're designed to metabolise NATURAL foods, whether they contain mainly protein, fats, carbs or varying combinations of the above. Artificially altered stuff - such as trans fats, soy-based fake meats and other dietary gimmicks (loaded with all kinds of chemicals and expensive to boot) - is NOT too good for us because we're NOT designed to digest it.

Robert 10-30-2007 @ 1:53PM

Take a look at your abdomen. If there's more fat there than there used to be you have found the fat to worry about.

Kristina 10-30-2007 @ 10:22AM

You know, I just can't stand it anymore. Does medical science actually know anything about anything? I think it is possible that they've reversed themselves on every single pronouncement they have ever made .. and we slavishly follow them, eliminating fat, cutting out caffeine, shunning carbohydrates, refusing carbonated beverages .. on and on and on. I'm just going to eat what tastes good and appeals to me, and the heck with medical advice they'll reverse next week.

JUGL11 10-30-2007 @ 10:22AM

Remember the Woody Allen movie "Sleeper"? He wakes up in the future, when science has proclaimed cholesterol to be healthy. Woody knew what he was talking about.

As for me, I follow the 3 Cs of nutrition, coffee, chocolate & cholesterol. All of these former "no-nos" are now found to be beneficial. I'm 55 years old, morbidly obese, & in the last 10 years I've taken sick time from work just once (caught the flu 3 years ago).

My secrets are a sense of humor & the ability to manage stress. I learned relaxation techniques 35 years ago & have been practicing them ever since. I also juggle, which is a great stress reducer.

I think I'm much better off than the folks who worry about every bite of food they put in their mouths - & then start lecturing YOU about your habits.

Another slice of pizza, anyone?

Chrissy 10-30-2007 @ 10:30AM

Come on!!! How many billions of our 'tax' dollars go into research to find out that 'good' is 'bad'...and 'bad' is 'good'??! Just like this 'govern''ment'...180 degrees off most of the time! Wasteful...in EVERY "cents" of the word!

Chrissy 10-30-2007 @ 2:36AM

My feelings, exactly, Kristina. You're my kind of woman! You, too JUGL11. Mangia!
I've NEVER listened to "their" do's and dont's. Knew 'they' were full of it!
Enjoy your day!

TomOfMaine 11-02-2007 @ 8:57PM

>>Mary Enig, PhD is the best source on which fats are healthy and which are not.

TomOfMaine 11-03-2007 @ 12:47AM

My above comment was interestingly cut off before it reached the important part. Mary Enig is NOT a good source for fat info, she is a disciple of the ultra-biased weston price foundation, a Washington DC based
pro-meat, pro-dairy, anti-soy, anti-vegetarian lobbyist group with an agenda to promote the consumption of animal parts and fluids for profit, no matter what the consequences are for our health or our environment.
Atkins dieters are not healthy, quite the opposite in fact.
They may lose some pounds in the short run but in the long run they are on the road to heart disease and cancer, as is usually the case with human beings who consume animal parts and fluids. Sure some folks have lowered their saturated fat consumption over the decades, but they still continue to consume animal parts and fluids (lean or not) which sends them in the direction of ill-health. Cut animals out of your diet and watch your health and happiness bloom. Despite what the biased naysayers spout, try it and see for yourself. My wife and I stopped eating animals 14 years ago and we are strong, fit and energetic, not to mention that we are enjoying the tastiest foods ever.