Heart Health High Cholesterol Nutrition Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats Your body needs dietary fat, but it's best to limit some saturated fats By Jennifer Moll, PharmD Jennifer Moll, PharmD Facebook Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 10, 2022 Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD Facebook LinkedIn Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Saturated Fat Unsaturated Fat Fat vs. Cholesterol Which Are Good or Bad? Frequently Asked Questions The main differences between saturated and unsaturated fat is their form at room temperature and their impact on your health. Saturated fats (including a type called trans fat) tend to stay solid and can cause fatty deposits in blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries"). By contrast, unsaturated fats stay liquid at room temperature and are less likely to clog your arteries. In addition, most unsaturated fats are derived from plant sources (like olive, avocado, and nuts), while most saturated fats come from animal sources (like red meat, poultry, and dairy). This article takes a look at saturated vs. unsaturated fat, including examples of each and which are more likely to put you at risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. It also explains how to include each in a healthy, balanced diet. Verywell What Is Saturated Fat? Saturated fats are called "saturated" because of their chemical structure. All fats are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen molecules. Saturated fats are "saturated" with hydrogen atoms, which means they have the greatest number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds in their chemical structure. What does this chemical structure mean? For one, it means that, like butter, they become solid at room temperature. Foods that contain saturated fats include: Animal meat including beef, poultry, porkCertain plant oils such as palm kernel or coconut oilDairy products including cheese, butter, and milkProcessed meats including bologna, sausages, hot dogs, and baconPre-packaged snacks including crackers, chips, cookies, and pastries Why Limit Saturated Fats in Your Diet Saturated fat should make up less than 6% of your daily caloric intake, according to AHA recommendations. Limiting your saturated fat intake, especially certain types of saturated fat, could improve your heart health. Some studies have shown that consuming a high amount of saturated fats may increase your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as "bad" cholesterol. High LDL levels may increase your risk of heart disease. However, there have been multiple studies that say saturated fat does not actually have a negative effect on your heart. The more saturated fat you eat, the more LDL you seem to have in your body. However, studies have shown that not all LDL is bad. Saturated fat increases the amount of large, buoyant LDL you have. These larger LDL particles do not appear to increase your risk of heart disease. On the other hand, small, dense LDL has been shown to contribute to atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque on your arteries, which leads to heart disease. Eating saturated fat doesn't appear to increase your small, dense LDL. In a few cases, the risk of plaque build-up even went down when saturated fat was consumed. The type of saturated fat-containing foods you eat also seems to make a difference in your heart health. One large study suggested that consuming dairy products may actually lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. At the same time, including processed meats in your diet could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Saturated Fat: Good or Bad? Based on available evidence, experts disagree on how important it is to limit saturated fats in your diet. Still, the AHA does recommend limiting it. Fats from dairy products are considered a safe choice. And all experts agree that processed meats should be avoided. What Is Unsaturated Fat? Unsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature. They differ from saturated fats in that their chemical structure contains one or more double bonds. They can be further categorized as: Monounsaturated fats: This type of unsaturated fat contains only one double bond in its structure. Monounsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature and include canola oil and olive oil.Polyunsaturated fats: This type of unsaturated fat contains two or more double bonds in its structure. They are also liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats include safflower oil, sunflower oil, and corn oil. Dietary Recommendations The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that between 20% and 35% of your total daily calories should consist of fat. Most of your intake should be from unsaturated fat. However, studies suggest that consuming only unsaturated fats may not be as heart-healthy as once thought, and consuming saturated fats may not be as dangerous. Incorporating Unsaturated Fats in Your Diet Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats should make up most of your daily fat intake, according to AHA recommendations. Examples of foods that contain unsaturated fats include: Nuts Plant oils Certain fish like salmon, tuna, and anchovies, which contain omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids Olives Avocados Healthiest Oils to Lower Your Cholesterol Difference Between Fat and Cholesterol Cholesterol and fats are both lipids. They are found in the food you eat, and they circulate in your bloodstream. Cholesterol has a more complex chemical structure compared to fats. In the body, cholesterol is bound to protein as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL). LDL may increase your risk of heart disease, while HDL, often called "good" cholesterol, is considered to be protective against heart problems. Which Fats Are Good or Bad in Your Diet? If you are watching your cholesterol and triglyceride levels (another type of fat that circulates in the blood), try to include a variety of healthy foods like lean meats, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains. More research is needed to understand the influence of unsaturated and saturated fats on cardiovascular disease. Although there has been research suggesting that saturated fats are not as bad for heart health as they were once thought, doctors still usually recommend limiting your intake. A handful of walnuts or a lean piece of beef is a better choice for your meals than a bag of chips or sausage links. Both may contain fats, but the nuts and lean meat also contain vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients. The chips and processed meat, meanwhile, may be higher in sugar, chemical preservatives, salt, and trans fats. All of these can have a negative effect on your lipid levels and heart health. Can You Eat Too Much Unsaturated Fat? Both unsaturated fat and saturated fat add calories (and weight to your waistline) if you consume too much. Practicing moderation is the best way to stay healthy. Additionally, the type of fat-containing foods you consume can make a difference in your lipid levels. Summary There’s a lot of disagreement about how much saturated fat is “safe” or “healthy.” Some types of saturated fat are associated with heart disease. Saturated fat found in beef, butter, margarine, and other rich foods may not increase your cardiovascular risk since they result in larger LDL. However, your best bet might be to limit the saturated fats in your diet anyway. Instead, choose unsaturated fats as your main source of fats and lipids. This will help you to avoid unhealthy sources of saturated fats, such as processed meats, that are known to increase the risk of health problems. A Word From Verywell It can be confusing to try and untangle which fats you should consume and which you should avoid, especially as newer research changes what you may have heard before. The best course is to check with your doctor and continue to include foods in your diet that are natural, unprocessed, high in nutrients, and lower in calories. Frequently Asked Questions Why do we need to eat foods with fat? Dietary fats are important for your body to stay healthy. They provide energy, protect your organs, maintain cell growth, stabilize blood pressure, and help your body to absorb certain nutrients. What are the benefits of unsaturated fats? Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats reduce harmful LDL cholesterol levels and provide nutrients that your body needs to develop and maintain your cells. Polyunsaturated fats also provide omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential to your health. Learn More: 14 Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids What are trans fats? Trans fat is a type of dietary fat that can increase your risk of heart disease. It can be found in small amounts in animal foods, such as red meat or dairy. Most trans fats are artificial and found in processed foods, fried food, and commercial baked goods. Learn More: 3 Types of Foods High in Saturated Fat 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Heart Association. The skinny on fats. Kim K, Ginsberg HN, Choi SH. New, Novel Lipid-Lowering Agents for Reducing Cardiovascular Risk: Beyond Statins. Diabetes Metab J. 2022 Jul;46(4):517-532. doi:10.4093/dmj.2022.0198. Malhotra A, Redberg RF, Meier P. Saturated fat does not clog the arteries: coronary heart disease is a chronic inflammatory condition, the risk of which can be effectively reduced from healthy lifestyle interventions. Br J Sports Med. 2017;51(15):1111-1112. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2016-097285 DiNicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC, O’Keefe JH. 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HDL (good), LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. De Souza RJ, Mente A, Maroleanu A, et al. Intake of saturated and trans-unsaturated fatty acids and risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMJ. 2015;351:h3978. doi:10.1136/bmj.h3978 Harvard Health Publishing. Know the facts about fats. American Heart Association. Fats. U.S. National Libary of Medicine. Facts about trans fats. MedlinePlus. By Jennifer Moll, PharmD Jennifer Moll, MS, PharmD, is a pharmacist actively involved in educating patients about the importance of heart disease prevention. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit