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So many people say Saturated Fats is bad for you and you shouldn't eat too much fatty meats or dairy because they lead to high cholesterol. Everyone just takes this as fact without asking for proof.

Does anyone know of any studies that show proof of this?

If someone eats a number of calories that are equal to or less than their daily caloric needs, does the amount of Saturated Fat in their diet really make a difference?

Additionally, body fat is saturated fat. So, if I'm burning my own fat, isn't that just like eating the same amount of calories worth of saturated fat as I have burned? What's the difference.

Please post links to sources with your answers. Thanks.

Chris Pietschmann
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    related link: 7 Reasons to Eat More Saturated Fat by Tim Ferriss - http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/06/06/saturated-fat/ – Chris Pietschmann Jul 29 '11 at 22:08
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    What makes you think body fat is saturated? – DustinDavis Jul 29 '11 at 22:24
  • Is it not? I guess that relates to how body fat and saturated fat from diet differ. Any sources to show info about this? – Chris Pietschmann Jul 30 '11 at 17:05
  • duplicate? http://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/1184/does-the-existence-of-trans-fat-invalidate-years-of-research-on-saturated-fats/1187#1187 – Doug T. Jul 31 '11 at 17:59
  • also potential duplicate: http://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/1219/what-are-the-nutritional-benefits-of-saturated-fats – Doug T. Jul 31 '11 at 18:00
  • @Doug and others interested. You may want to go a little easy on the "duplicate" excitement. Fitness/Nutrition is a BETA and it's, well, it's not doing real well at the moment. I've heard people say on other betas you have to let them run a little, there's a danger in over-moderating (no matter how much fun moderating is). Good luck, hope it makes it out of beta! – Fattie Aug 02 '11 at 17:52
  • Keep in mind that there are over 30 kinds of saturated fatty acids, and they all have unique effects in different situations. – G__ Aug 04 '11 at 16:20

2 Answers2

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Saturated fats are good for you - 50 percent or more of our cell membrane phospholipids are saturated. The anti-saturated fat campaign was launched by U.S. vegetable interests wanting us to eat margarine, Crisco, and trans fat.

Thanks to them, obesity and diabetes have become the Twin Tower epidemics of our time! This is an excellent link; the truth about saturated fat.

Ivo Flipse
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Alan Watson
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Definitely conventional wisdom needs to be questioned in a methodical way.

Gary Taubes has written a lot about Saturated Fat, and while I can understand it while I read, I find it difficult to explain from scratch.

However, here's a good New York Times Article on Saturated Fats which shows that they aren't the enemy that the experts make them out to be.

davewasthere
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