Doctors Explain 10 Reasons Saturated Fat Is Good For You

Doctors Explain 10 Reasons Saturated Fat Is Good For You

saturated fatHealth


Saturated fat is not bad.

That mindset can be difficult to swallow after we’ve been told how dangerous saturated fats are. We’re grilled to eat less of this fat or that fat. Then you have some gurus who demonized all types of fat.

Your brain is on information overload as you peruse the food aisles, and you’re ripping your hair out in frustration.


Who do you listen to? Who’s right? Wrong?

Repeat it like a mantra: I will not be afraid to eat saturated fat for health reasons. My body needs it!

What are Saturated Fats?

Instead of a lengthy scientific answer, a fat that remains mostly solid at room temperature is saturated. All dietary fats are fatty acid chains. Even among the fat subgroups, the chain lengths do vary and so do their benefits.

Where Did The Fat is Bad Myth Actually Start?

Around 1958, a study emerged that aimed to find a dietary link to heart disease. Seven countries and their respective diets went under a microscope, but only a hypothesis developed as a result. This is mostly due to the serum cholesterol levels the study uncovered, which were higher in countries that are large amounts of animal fats. (1)


However, animals are only one source of this type of fat. Even plant-based diets that use minimal or no dairy products can exceed recommended daily values, including the Mediterranean Diet.

A secondary myth evolved with the low-fat craze of the 80’s and 90’s. Again, this started from a hypothesis that scientists and medical researchers have long debunked. Eating fat of any kind does not make you fat.

Are Dietary Fats Created Equally?

No, they’re most certainly not. Full fat unsweetened yogurt will be healthier than a vegan donut fried in vegetable oil. Why? Most fried foods still contain unhealthy trans-fat, even if the label says zero. The FDA only requires a company to list it on the label if it exceeds 1 gram.

Trans-fats are not the same as the naturally occurring saturated variety. (2)

Healthy Saturated Fat Choices

• Dark chocolate
• Full-fat dairy, including cheese, yogurt, and real butter
• Eggs
• Coconut oil
• Avocado
• Nuts

How Much Fat Should You Eat?

This is a varied opinion and it will depend more on your chosen lifestyle, your health, and your genetic risk factors. However, we’ll include the standard guidelines for your reference.


According to American dietary guidelines, you should aim for 10% of your daily fat intake to be saturated. This recommendation is still based on debunked science. However, they do say to replace your other fat intake with plant-based monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

Low carb lifestyles and Paleo/primal diets reach for 50-80% total fats. A strict follower will aim to balance their omega fatty acids over the following actual percentages.

The American Heart Association supports no more than 6%.(3)

Keep in mind that fat is one proponent of your diet. If you’re looking to consume more or less saturated fat for health or weight loss, you should also address your entire diet so it remains balanced.

Some People Should Still Limit Saturated Fats

If you have Familial Hypercholesterolemia, you might wish to stay on the lower side of the recommended values. Speak with your doctor if you have or are at risk for this genetic disorder.

Some people store and process fat differently. Science still can’t explain the variables, so if you notice adverse effects or face poor test results, limiting saturated fat might benefit you.

If your current goal is weight loss and you’re not following a low carb plan, you will need to watch your saturated fat intake. This doesn’t mean to avoid it, but it does contain a large number of calories.

Processed Low Fat Foods Aren’t Your Answer

We’re not including foods naturally low in fat because they often contain vital nutrients your body requires. However, a diet heavy in processed low fat foods aren’t nutritiously sound when compared to their full-fat counterparts.

While we should do our best to avoid processed foods high in saturated fat, we often reach for lower fat versions of those same foods thinking they’re healthier. In fat’s place, you will find unhealthy fillers to enhance taste and texture. Sugar is usually the go-to.


The problem is you’ve now swapped one disease risk for another, namely obesity and insulin resistance. Both are predominant factors in prediabetes. (4)

10 Reasons You Should Eat More Saturated Fats


1. Increases Your Beneficial HDL Cholesterol

Healthy cholesterol levels require balance. Your body has two types: HDL and LDL. Both are technically proteins. Fats, especially the saturated variety, actually lower your HDL, which reduces your risk for heart disease. (56)

Some fats will raise your LDL, which increases heart disease risks. However, the rise in HDL from saturated fats negates the rise in LDL. (7)

2. Your Cells Need It

Saturated fats assist your body at the cellular level. They build and strengthen the walls of your cell membranes. It’s also responsible for building and strengthening your brain cells.



3. Promotes a Healthy Brain

When you don’t consume enough saturated fats, you run the risk of brain fog. Does it stop there? A few emerging studies highlight the importance of dietary fat on Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Dr. David Perlmutter, who wrote Grain Brain, links lower consumption of fats (including saturated) with higher incidences of mental and brain-based disorders. His lists include dementia, chronic headaches, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease.

His link comes from the dietary cholesterol found in these high fat foods, which we also know promotes brain cell health. They also assist with communication between your neurons; many of the listed disorders occur because the brain’s neurons don’t effectively communicate.

4. Might Lower Your Stroke Risk

Consuming dairy, which contains high amounts of saturated fat, in a 25-year study showed a decrease in risk factors for stroke. In the study, participants enjoyed both low fat and full fat dairy. Further study would be beneficial to understand the link. (9)

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