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Saturated Fats : Causes And Effects

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Saturated fat is a type of fat naturally found in animal-based foods like: Fatty cuts of beef, poultry with the skin on, lard, shortening and butter, higher fat milk, cheeses and yogurts. It is also found in some vegetable oils like coconut and palm kernel oil. These oils are commonly used in fast foods and processed foods. There are different kinds of saturated fats. Some saturated fats impact our bodies more negatively than others. Because foods naturally contain a mixture of different saturated fats, it is hard to choose foods based on one particular type of saturated fat. Therefore, past researched has recommended to limit all saturated fat. The negative saturated fats have been linked to a higher risk of heart disease. This is because too much saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad cholesterol.” Higher LDL cholesterol levels can lead to plaque build-up in your arteries.

Research has never clearly shown that saturated fats are the cause of heart health problems. It is likely an accumulation of other dietary and physical activity choices including the over consumption of saturated fats that have led to heart issues and diseases. Russell de Souza, a nutrition epidemiologist at McMaster University in Hamilton, recently completed a study that found saturated fat is not linked to strokes, type 2 diabetes, heart disease or death. More recent researches have questioned the direct link between the two however more work needs to be done to isolate the impact

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