Question

The nurse is providing diet education for a patient on a low-fat diet. Which of the following is most accurate? a. unsaturated fats are found mostly in animal sources b. saturated fats are found mostly in vegetable sources c. linoleic acid is saturated fat d. saturated fats are found mostly in animal sources

Answer 1

Saturated fats, which are typically solid at room temperature, are mostly sourced from animal products. However, unsaturated fats, typically liquid at room temperature, predominantly come from plant sources. Linoleic acid, contrary to one of the options, is not a saturated fat, but is a polyunsaturated fat usually found in vegetable oils.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the question is: d. saturated fats are found mostly in animal sources. Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature and are most often found in animal products like meat and butter. These fats have straight fatty acid chains which allow them to pack closely and stay solid at room temperature.

In contrast, unsaturated fats are typically liquid at room temperature and predominantly come from plant sources like olive oil, corn oil, and canola oil. Their fatty acid chains contain double carbon bonds which create a 'kink' or bend, preventing them from packing tightly together. This keeps them in a liquid state at room temperature.

Lastly, linoleic acid is not a saturated fat, but a polyunsaturated fat, most commonly found in vegetable oils.

Learn more about Saturated and Unsaturated Fats