What does SFA mean in UNCLASSIFIED

Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are a type of fatty acid found in foods like eggs, red meat, butter, cheese, and coconut oil. Unlike unsaturated fats (like vegetable oils), they have more than one double bond between their carbon atoms. This makes them more stable than unsaturated fats which helps preserve their flavor and texture when used for cooking or baking

The main difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids is the arrangement of the hydrogen atoms around their carbon atoms. Saturated fatty acids have single bonds between their hydrogen atoms which make them more solid at room temperature when compared to unsaturated fats because they do not contain any double bonds. Unsaturated fats on the other hand contain double bonds between some of their hydrogen atoms which makes them liquid at room temperature

Studies have suggested that consuming SFAs may help lower cholesterol levels in the blood and decrease risk factors associated with coronary heart disease. Additionally, SFAs can provide essential nutrients such as essential Omega-3 fatty acids which can be beneficial for cognitive function, healthy brain development in infants, immune system function and eye health

Excessive consumption of SFAs has been linked to an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease due to the increase in “bad” LDL cholesterol levels within the body. It is recommended that no more than 10 percent of daily caloric intake should come from saturated fat sources

Eating sources of healthy dietary fat such as nuts, seeds and avocados can provide small amounts of SFAs while still providing much needed monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Additionally incorporating full-fat dairy products like whole milk yogurt or cheese into meals can also supply small amounts of SFAs without excessively increasing overall fat intake