Do vegetarians eat saturated fat? Why is it in almost everything?

Answer 1

At the molecular level, a saturated fat is a fatty-acid carbon chain that is completely saturated with hydrogen atoms. In this situation each carbon atom in the chain is joined together by a single bond. This saturated carbon chain is straight. If the fat is unsaturated, then some of the hydrogens (which bond to the carbons) are missing, and so the carbon atoms have to form double bonds with one another. This makes the chain bend. Now imagine a bunch of straight chains (the saturated fats), they can stack easily on top of one another, and therefore can stay solid. Butter is an example of saturated fat. It is mostly solid at room temperature. Canola oil on the other hand is mostly unsaturated fat, the chains that bend and therefore, don't stack as tightly on one another, and so it can remain liquid at room temperature.

Even if a person is vegetarian or vegan, butter, as I mentioned (and other dairy products) contain saturated fats. Also, some vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, contain saturated fats (coconut oil, what they use on movie theater popcorn, contains more saturated fats than lard). This should not be confused with cholesterol, only animal products contain cholesterol... cholesterol is ONLY produced by animals, NOT plants. But, saturated fats exist in plant as well as animal products.

Answer 2

You bet we do! There are two reasons why it's in everything. Firstly, food companies like to use it because it's cheap and spoils slower than other oils so they get a longer shelf life. One other thing is that except for a few ultra-processed 'chemistry lab' examples *all* fats are blends of many different fatty acids! Olive oil(for example) is considered to be a monounsaturated fat because it's major fatty acid components are monounsaturated but it also contains some polyunsaturated compounds and a small percentage of saturated fat. Coconut oil is the most saturated fat but still has a few mono and poly fatty acids in it.

Answer 3

I'm sure it depends on the person, but being a vegetarian doesn't mean you only eat vegetables. They can be just as likely to eat junk foods with saturated fats (cookies, chips, cheese pizza, etc.). I don't know how you can think it's in everything though... most natural foods contain little or no saturated fat.

Answer 4

Here is what you need to do, if you are serious about losing weight and keeping it off. Eat 6 small meals a day about every 4 hours. Here what that will do for you, your metabolism will increase (i.e. Loose weight) and you will have more engry. If you go on a diet and eat less, your metabolism will slow down and store to fat. That is why diets dont work. Only the size of your fist, carbs (examples:baked potato, pasta, oatmeal, beans, corn, melon, apples, fat free yogurt, whole wheat breads)in one and protien (examples:chicken breast, swordfish, shrimp, turkey breast) in the other. You can also eat vegetables and salads with any meal, they dont have none or little fat). 30min cardo exercise every day. Any of these(examples: walking, jogging, swimming,running, biking, ect), Monday cardo, tues upper body (arms: curls, tricep extensions,pull ups, front press)(abdominals: leg pull crunch, leg raises), (chest: bench press, butterfly, pullover)(shoulders: front press, arm pullover, cross county skier machine)(back:seated row, lat pull downs, back extension)(YOU DONT HAVE TO DO IN ONE DAY, mix it up) wed cardo, thurs lower body (legs: leg pull,leg press, squats, lounges) fri cardo, sat upper. Sunday eat anything you want and dont exercising, you do this on sunday so your body doesnt go into starvation mode. YOU NEED TO TAKE SUNDAY OFF. If you stilck with this you will have a great body. also drink aleast 8oz of water daily! Stay away from Mcdonals, Wendys, ect because there is nothing good for you on the menu's even the salads are bad (beaon bits, cheeze, dressing, ect) Good Luck :)