What is the difference between saturated triacylglycerols and unsaturated triacylglycerols

Cholesterol has a more complex chemical structure when compared to fats. In the body, cholesterol is bound to protein as low-density lipoprotein LDL which is considered to increase heart health risks, and high-density lipoprotein HDL , which is called good cholesterol because it is considered healthy. While saturated fat, the kind found in beef, butter, and margarine, can raise your LDL levels, the kind of LDL large LDL particles may not increase your cardiovascular risk.

Your best bet might be to moderate the saturated fats in your diet and to avoid the specific foods known to increase risk, particularly processed meats. If you are watching your cholesterol and triglyceride levels, 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 once thought, the current recommendations remain in place. Both unsaturated fat and saturated fat add calories to your meal and weight to your waistline if you consume too much of either one, so it is best to eat them in moderation.

Additionally, the type of fat-containing foods you consume can make a difference in your lipid levels. A handful of walnuts or a lean piece of beef is a better choice for your meals in comparison to a bag of chips or sausage links. Both may contain fats, but the former choices also contain vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients. The latter choices may be higher in sugar, chemical preservatives, salt, and trans fats.

All of these can have an adverse effect on your lipid levels and heart health. It can get confusing to untangle which fats you should consume and which you should avoid as newer research changes what you may have heard before. The AHA continues to weigh the research and make recommendations aimed at reducing your health risks. 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 absorb certain nutrients. 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 for a number of functions in your body. 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.

Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier. American Heart Association. June American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The Skinny on Fats. Updated Apr 30, Saturated fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease: modulation by replacement nutrients. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 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. The evidence for saturated fat and for sugar related to coronary heart disease. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. Dietary intake of saturated fat by food source and incident cardiovascular disease: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

Updated April 30, You've got to do things the hard way - eat your vegetables and get some exercise. A lipid is an organic compound such as fat or oil. Organisms use lipids to store energy, but lipids have other important roles as well. Lipids consist of repeating units called fatty acids. There are two types of fatty acids: saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids. In saturated fatty acids , carbon atoms are bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible.

This causes the molecules to form straight chains, as shown in the figure below. The straight chains can be packed together very tightly, allowing them to store energy in a compact form. This explains why saturated fatty acids are solids at room temperature.

Animals use saturated fatty acids to store energy. In unsaturated fatty acids , some carbon atoms are not bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as possible due to the presence of one or more double bonds in the carbon chain.

Instead, they are bonded to other groups of atoms. Wherever carbon binds with these other groups of atoms, it causes chains to bend see figure above. The bent chains cannot be packed together very tightly, so unsaturated fatty acids are liquids at room temperature. Plants use unsaturated fatty acids to store energy. Unsaturated fat is generally considered to be healthier because it contains fewer calories than an equivalent amount of saturated fat.

Additionally, high consumption of saturated fats is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Some examples of foods with high concentrations of saturated fats include butter, cheese, lard, and some fatty meats. Foods with higher concentrations of unsaturated fats include nuts, avocado, and vegetable oils such as canola oil and olive oil. Humans need lipids for many vital functions, such as storing energy and forming cell membranes.

Lipids can also supply cells with energy. Example of an unsaturated fat triglyceride. Left part: glycerol, right part from top to bottom: palmitic acid, oleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid.

Chemical formula: C55H98O6. The three fatty acids in a triglyceride can be the same or can each be a different fatty acid. A triglyceride containing different fatty acids is known as a mixed triglyceride. An example of a mixed triglyceride is shown in the image above.