Food - Drink
The Reason This Type Of Saturated Fat Found In Butter Isn't So Unhealthy
By JENNIFER SWEENIE
Fats, especially of the saturated variety such as butter, have been in the proverbial doghouse for quite some time. However, thanks to emerging studies and new data, they seem to have somewhat of a newfound appreciation.
Fatty acids are classified as either essential or non-essential, and two essential fatty acids that most people are familiar with are Omega-3s and Omega-6s. A 2020 study found that the saturated fatty acid in butter, C15:0 (Pentadecanoic Acid), is another essential fatty acid with several health benefits, like reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Per a 2022 peer-review study, we may also be able to add managing depression and autoimmune diseases to the long list of the health benefits linked to C15:0. This essential fatty acid can also be found in milk, cheese, some meat and fish, as well as some oils, such as coconut and palm kernel.