Saturated fats are one type of fat. Fats that are solid at room temperature are usually made of mostly saturated fats. Animal products such as meat, butter, lard and milkfat contain predominantly saturated fats. Some vegetable fats are also saturated. Saturated fats may raise the level of cholesterol in the blood, so people with heart disease are urged to decrease their saturated fat intake.
Unsaturated fats tend to lower blood cholesterol levels in some people.
There are two types of unsaturated fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated. Both may help lower blood cholesterol levels. Polyunsaturated fats are found in plant oils that are liquid at room temperature. Safflower, corn, sunflower, sesame, soybean, and cottonseed oils are mostly polyunsaturated. Fish contains some cholesterol, but the benefit of the omega-3 fat seems to outweigh the disadvantages of the cholesterol.