• Saturated fat is a type of dietary fat (along with unsaturated fat and trans fat).
• Chemically, its carbon chains are “saturated” with hydrogen atoms—meaning no double bonds.
• It is usually solid at room temperature (like ghee, butter, coconut oil, cheese).

Sources

• Animal fats: red meat, butter, full-fat dairy.
• Plant-based fats: coconut oil, palm oil.

Health Aspect

• Eating too much saturated fat can raise LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in the blood.
• This increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Health experts recommend replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats (like sunflower oil, olive oil, groundnut oil).

👉 That’s why in your Snackzio product descriptions, highlighting “Zero Trans Fat & Cholesterol Free, made with Refined Sunflower Oil” is a strong selling point—since sunflower oil is unsaturated, making it a healthier option.

Unsaturated Fat

• Unsaturated fat is a type of dietary fat that is generally considered healthy for the heart.
• Unlike saturated fat, it has one or more double bonds in its chemical structure → this makes it liquid at room temperature.

Types of Unsaturated Fat

1. Monounsaturated Fat (MUFA):Found in olive oil, groundnut (peanut) oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, nuts, avocados.Helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL).
2. Polyunsaturated Fat (PUFA):Found in soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, walnuts, flaxseeds, fish (omega-3 fatty acids).Supports brain function and reduces risk of heart disease.

Health Benefits

✅ Helps lower bad cholesterol (LDL).
✅ Reduces risk of heart disease & stroke.
✅ Provides essential fatty acids (like omega-3 & omega-6).
✅ Supports cell growth and brain function.

Let’s break it down simply on the basis of saturated vs. unsaturated fat content in these oils:

1. Groundnut Oil (Peanut Oil)

• Saturated Fat: ~17% (moderate)
• Unsaturated Fat: ~83% (good mix of monounsaturated & polyunsaturated)
• Health Note: Considered heart-friendly, stable for frying, nutty flavor.

2. Refined Sunflower Oil

• Saturated Fat: ~10% (low)
• Unsaturated Fat: ~90% (high in polyunsaturated fats)
• Health Note: Very light, good for heart health, but less stable at high frying temperatures compared to groundnut oil.

3. Coconut Oil

• Saturated Fat: ~82–87% (very high)
• Unsaturated Fat: ~13–18% (very low)
• Health Note: Increases LDL (bad cholesterol) if consumed in excess; gives strong coconut flavor; stable for frying but not heart-healthy.

4. Palm Oil

• Saturated Fat: ~50% (high)
• Unsaturated Fat: ~50%
• Health Note: Widely used in processed snacks because it’s cheap & stable, but linked to heart health issues with long-term use.

✅ Summary Table

Oil TypeSaturated FatUnsaturated FatHealth Impact

Groundnut OilModerate (~17%)High (~83%)Balanced, heart-friendly, good for frying

Sunflower OilLow (~10%)Very High (~90%)Heart-healthy, light, less stable at high heat

Coconut OilVery High (~85%)Very Low (~15%)Raises cholesterol, strong flavor, stable

Palm OilHigh (~50%)Moderate (~50%)Cheap, stable, but less healthy.