saturated fat
noun Nutrition.
a type of single-bond animal or vegetable fat, as that found in butter, meat, egg yolks, and coconut or palm oil, that in humans tends to increase cholesterol levels in the blood.
Compare saturated(def 3).
Origin of saturated fat
First recorded in 1970–75
Words nearby saturated fat
Medical definitions for saturated fats
saturated fat
n.
A fat, most often of animal origin, having chains of saturated fatty acids. An excess of these fats in the diet is thought to raise the cholesterol level in the bloodstream.
Scientific definitions for saturated fats
saturated fat
A fat with a triglyceride molecule containing three saturated fatty acids. All carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains of saturated fats are connected by single bonds. Most fats derived from animal sources are saturated fats. Eating foods high in saturated fats can lead to elevated cholesterol levels in the blood. Compare unsaturated fat.
Cultural definitions for saturated fats
saturated fats
The kind of fat in which the molecules are arranged so that every valence electron in each of the atoms making up the molecule is used to form a bond with one electron from another atom (called a single bond). Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature and are found in butter, red meat, poultry, and milk products.
notes for saturated fats
A diet high in saturated fats increases the level of
cholesterol in the
blood. Because of the role cholesterol may play in
heart disease, many physicians now recommend that people eat fewer saturated fats.