What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?

Fatty acids are components of fats and have a decisive influence on the properties and functions of fats in the body.

Saturated fatty acids are mainly found in animal products and are solid at room temperature. For example, you can find saturated fats in meat, butter, but also coconut oil. Saturated fats tend to heat well because they are relatively stable in the face of heat.

Unsaturated fatty acids are mainly found in plants, but also in fatty fish. They are liquid at room temperature. For example, you can find them in olive oil, rapeseed oil, salmon, mackerel or herring. The polyunsaturated fats are particularly healthy, as in linseed or salmon. (Poly)unsaturated fats should not be heated at all or only slightly, otherwise the positive properties will be lost. 

In your diet, the proportion of saturated fats should be as low as possible, while the proportion of unsaturated fats should be higher.

Too many saturated fats can lead to deposits in the veins (cholesterol), while unsaturated fats support your immune system, are important for the development of body structures and can break down bad cholesterol.

You can find more information about this topic here:

Healthy fats and oils