Saturated fats, also called saturated fatty acids, are a type of fat which has carbon atoms fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.
Saturated fats are found in animal fats and in some plants such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, and palm kernel oil.
Saturated fats tend to be solids at room temperatures, while unsaturated fats tend to be liquid.
According to the FNB (Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine), saturated fats have no required role for the human body other than as energy sources. The body can synthesise its needs for saturated fats from other sources. Also, even low intake of saturated fats can increase LDL and total cholesterol. Therefore, the intake of saturated fats should be minimized.