Putting Saturated Fats Into Perspective

Saturated fats are triglyceride-based fats that comprise of saturated fatty acids only. These fats come in different varieties depending on the number of carbon atoms. They include Butyric acid, Lauric acid, Palmitic acid, Stearic acid and Mytistic acid. Stearic acid and Butyric acid are the largest and smallest with 18 and 4 carbon atoms, respectively.

Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) can affect the body negatively or positively. This is usually dependent on the levels of these fats in the body.

Negative Effects
Heart problems - These fats are agents for cardiovascular complications. This is because they increase cholesterol production. This is usually possible through increased secretion of acetate fragments.

The increase in cholesterol production exhibits itself when the fats gather in deposits in the body. They populate various organs and blood cells, which is a sure way to herald myriad heart complications.

Obesity - SFAs are sure conduits for obesity. After consumption, they inhabit the adipose cells, which are usually storage cells. Regardless of their size, these cells have the capacity to store humongous amounts of fats.

Due to their flat shapes, their build-up process of SFAs is an easy one. Obesity is always the resultant product of this build-up exercise. It comes with a plethora of other health complications such as, stroke, asthma and heart failures among others.

Decreased production of insulin - Consuming foods rich in saturated fats can also cause problems to the pancreas. SFAs interfere with its ability to produce insulin. Inadequate levels of insulin will undoubtedly form a perfect breeding ground for various diseases. Chief among them is diabetes.

Unfortunately, these problems might not stop there. Due to insufficient amounts of insulin, the pancreas could be induced into producing large proportions of insulin. The disadvantage of this action is that victims could still incur the wrath of diabetes. Also, excessive SFAs cause insulin sensitivity and the body will store more food than fats.

Increased risk of cancer - Increased intake of saturated fats in the body is directly proportional to increased risk of cancers. Some of these cancers include colon, prostate, breast and ovarian cancer. Indeed, results from a study by the Harvard School of Public Health have proved this fact.

For instance, the study revealed that there was a correlation between large consumption of red meat and increased levels of breast cancer in women. As aforementioned, saturated fats are not harmful when consumed in the right proportions.

Positive Effects
Boosting of the immune system - People who want to boost their immune systems can benefit a great deal from saturated fats. They are pivotal elements in the identification of harmful organisms in the body. SFAs assist the white blood cells to unearth and eradicate any foreign invaders in the form of pathogens.

The success of SFAs hinges upon consuming foods rich in them. The consumption of such foods is a continual process that transcends infancy, adulthood and old age. In the case of old people, SFAs assist them to forestall any production of cancerous cells.

Increase bone strength - SFAs are always a necessity when middle age starts to creep in. It is at this stage that people begin to experience a decline in their bone mass. The popular solution for this problem has been the consumption of calcium-rich foods.

Then again, SFAs are mandatory for the successful incorporation of calcium into the bone. Insufficient amounts of saturated fatty acids in the body causes osteoporosis in addition to bone mass losses.