Articles
Dietary fat: Know which to choose
Harmful dietary fat
Healthier dietary fat
What changes should I make to my diet?
What about very low-fat diets?
Unhealthy fats
Healthier fats
Recommendations for fat intake
The facts about fat
Saturated fat
Unsaturated fat
Don't go to extremes
Content
Types of fat
Saturated fats in food
Monounsaturated fats in food
Polyunsaturated fats in food
Trans fats in food
How can I start eating healthier?
Healthier dietary fat
What changes should I make to my diet?
What about very low-fat diets?
Unhealthy fats
Healthier fats
Recommendations for fat intake
The facts about fat
Saturated fat
Unsaturated fat
Don't go to extremes
Content
Types of fat
Saturated fats in food
Monounsaturated fats in food
Polyunsaturated fats in food
Trans fats in food
How can I start eating healthier?
Types of fat
There are two main kinds of dietary fats: saturated fat and unsaturated fat. These terms describe the chemical makeup of the fatty acids.
Most foods have a mix of different kinds of fat. But some have higher levels of saturated fats, and others have higher levels of unsaturated fats. Key differences in fats include the following:
- Saturated fats. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature. The most common sources of saturated fats are meats and dairy products.
- Unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature. Vegetable oils, nuts and fish have mostly unsaturated fats. There are two types of unsaturated fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.
