These are the simplest types of fat and form the building blocks of much of the fat that is stored in the body. A triglyceride is made up of three different fatty acids . It is the different types of fatty acids that give different fats their biological properties. Fats don't tend to contain just one type of fatty acid, or triglyceride. Fats usually contain a variety of different triglycerides, made up of a variety of different fatty acids.
Some fats are naturally high in some types of fatty acids and low in others.
For example, when we talk about 'saturated fats' we mean fats that contain a large proportion of saturated fatty acids. Foods high in saturated fatty acids include meat, dairy products, biscuits, cakes, pastries and chocolate. A diet high in saturated fatty acids can raise blood cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease and circulation problems. At one time, it was thought that all saturated fatty acids were equally harmful, however, now it seems that some are potentially more harmful than others. Myristic acid is the main saturated fatty acid associated with high blood cholesterol levels.