Health Benefits of Saturated Fats
Video Transcript
Just a quick review of our last chapter: 1. Fats are made up of the basic elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. 2. Variations in the bonds between the atoms and the structures created change the classification of a fat from saturated to unsaturated. 3. Plants and animals contain both saturated fats and unsaturated fats.
Saturated fats have been demonized by the medical professions for the past 75 years. Wrongly demonized, I might add, as saturated fats are so important to good health that your body makes them for you if your diet is deficient. Imagine that—something so vital that your body produces them on its own instead of waiting for you to eat the right things. Now what makes saturated fats so important? Let’s look first at the cellular level. Saturated fats are components of every cell in your body. EVERY CELL. North Carolina Senator Sam Ervin once said, “All politics is local." The work of saturated fats in the cell membranes of our body is also local. How well our cells function depends on the type of fats found in their membranes.
The cell membrane is a pliable sheathlike skin that surrounds every cell in our body, all 40 trillion of them! It is responsible for managing the entry of nutrients and the exit of waste products. It allows for the passive exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The cell membrane contains receptors that allow it to receive signals from other cells, interacting via hormones, electrolytes, enzymes, and more. The cell membrane is, in fact, the manager of how each cell operates and how well it functions. It is sometimes called the "mem-brain" for its vital decision-making role in cellular functioning.
Around each cell is a strong, flexible double layer of proteins and lipids (remember lipid means fat) that encases the structures within. Each phospholipid layer of the membrane has two fatty acids facing inward and a phosphorus molecule facing outward.
In the illustration of a cross-section of a cell membrane, the fatty acids are the two tail-like structures on the inner side of the membrane attached to the single phosphorus molecule facing outward. At least half of the fatty acids in the cell membrane must be saturated fats for the membrane to function properly. Yes, you heard that right: HALF of the fatty acids in every cell membrane MUST BE SATURATED FATS in order for the cell to function properly. You can also see that the cell wall contains proteins, noted in purple, and cholesterol, shown in gold, which help provide stability and waterproofing to the cell wall. Saturated fats also help provide structure to the membranes of the mitochondria within each cell. Known as the “lungs of the cell”, the mitochondria are where the energy in our body originates.
Another role for saturated fats: They are vital for the production of sex hormones in both males and females. In men, reducing saturated fats and increasing polyunsaturated fats lowers testosterone and other sex hormones in the bloodstream. Pay attention here guys—reducing saturated fats reduces your levels of testosterone—not a good plan for your love life. In women, increasing the consumption of saturated fats results in a higher production of various estrogens.
Remember that saturated fats contain important nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K2 that help lay down the collagen structure of the bone and aid in placing calcium in the bone and not in your kidneys and arteries! Saturated fats are also a vital component of surfactants, chemicals in the lungs that facilitate the regular exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide and are therefore vital to breathing. Research has shown that children who drink whole milk and eat butter, which are higher in saturated fats, have less asthma than children consuming low-fat milk and margarine. Let’s face it, saturated fats rock!
Now you may well be asking yourself, why have I been told for ALL of my life that saturated fats are bad for me and I should do everything possible to avoid them? An excellent question. How did saturated fats become a nutritional villain? I will be telling that sad story in the second half of this series.
Until next time, this is Dr. DeLaney reminding you to eat real food!