What it means
Found in fatty meats, butter, cheese, cream, and coconut and palm oils. Eating a lot of it raises LDL ("bad") cholesterolkuh-LES-ter-olA waxy fat made by the liver and found in animal foods, which the body uses to build cells and hormones.Full entry , which adds to plaque in the arteries. US dietary guidelines advise keeping saturated fat below 10% of daily calories and replacing it with unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, nuts and fish.
For the nurse
In heart-healthy diet teaching, show clients how to find saturated fat on food labels and suggest swaps, such as lean meats, low-fat dairy and plant oils.
At a glance
| Also written | saturated fats |
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Related terms
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
low-density lipoprotein
A particle that carries cholesterol in the blood; its level is measured in a lipid panel and is often called "bad" cholesterol.
cholesterol
A waxy fat made by the liver and found in animal foods, which the body uses to build cells and hormones.
calorie
A unit that measures the energy in food and the energy the body uses.
omega-3 fatty acid
A kind of healthy unsaturated fat found in oily fish, flaxseed, walnuts and some plant oils.