Facts on Fats

Some of the vital roles of saturated fats include:

1. •Cell Membrane Function – 50 percent of the fats in cell membranes must be saturated for the cells to function properly.
   
   
2. •Lung Function – The lungs cannot function without saturated fats, which explains why children fed butter and whole milk have much less asthma than children fed margarine and low-fat milk.
   
   
3. •Kidney Function – The kidneys operate through a process that requires saturated fat.
   
   
4. •Brain and Nervous System – The normal brain is especially rich in saturated fat (and also cholesterol).
   
   
5. •Immune System – Saturated fats are needed for healthy immune function.
   
   
6. •Protection Against Infection – Some kinds of saturated fats (found in coconut oil and butter) help fight pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites. Children fed skim milk suffer from infection five times more frequently than children fed whole milk.
   
   
7. •Heart Function – Saturated fats are the preferred food for the heart. Children on low-fat diets actually develop blood markers indicating proneness to heart disease.
   
   
8. •Vitamin Carriers – Saturated animal fats serve as unique sources of important nutrients such as vitamins A and D, and CLA.