Shortish answer: This because our metabolic system does not really want to "burn" this.
The body is more prone to use these types of fats for long time storage and we gain weight. As we digest saturated fat, the saturated fat-acids enter the bloodstream and may form tiny droplets and clot/stick to the inside of the blood vessels. This can over time reduce the diameter of our blood-vessels and less blood will be able to pass through.
More information:
The body is a marvel. It tries to preserve energy-consumption whenever possible.
First it will burn off readily available energy such as sugar.
Secondly the body will convert available starch into sugar and then burn this off.
When there is a lack of sugar, then it starts burning of fat by transforming this into sugar. This process uses energy as well and the body is not happy about spending energy in order to consume energy.
The body will try to preserve the type of fat that takes the most energy to convert, and this is the Saturated Fat. (One of the reasons why it is so difficult to slim down)
When there is no more fat left to burn, the body turn to break down proteins in order to get energy. Muscles are made out of proteins.
It is important to have a little bit of fat as a buffer of energy, but too much of the wrong and hard to break down fat is generally a bad idea.
It also work the other way around.
When the body has got too much Sugar and Starch, then this surplus of energy is converted into fat and put on storage.
A bit crude explanation and I have possibly skipped a few steps in the actual process.
The overall picture is here though :-)
No RDI is stated for unsaturated fat however there is for saturated fat. (approx 20 - 25 grams saturated fat for an recommended total intake of about 70 grams of fat.) So this works out to be a ratio of about 30% saturated and 70% unsaturated. Meaning, if your total fat intake is around 70g then this would amount to 20g for saturated and 50g for unsaturated fat.
It is about 20 to 25 grams of saturated fat out of a recommended total intake of about 70 grams of fat (about 30% saturated and 70% unsaturated).
Less than 7%
The amount of recommended saturated fat intake depends on a person's calorie diet. If he consumes 2,000 calories a day, he should consume not more than 200 calories of saturated fat.
Too much saturated fat can raise blood cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease. You should therefore consume no more than your recommended daily intake.
The recommended intake of saturated fat that an adult human should consume is up to 5 grams. Saturated fat can cause weight gain, increase in cholosteral, and raise your blood pressure.
The daily recommended intake for fat is 18 grams or less for a total of 1,600 calories. You should take about 25 percent fat of your daily calories.
The usual stated maximal allowable amount of saturated fat (not an RDA, because actually no amounts of saturated fat is to be recommended) for men or women is 20% of daily fat intake, or about 15-20 grams max per day.
Oh yes, saturated fat is quite hazardous to your cardiovascular health. Eat as little as possible. Unsaturated fats are much better for you.
Saturated fat increases low density lipoprotein or the bad cholesterol. This is the cholesterol that doctors warn us about that causes clogged arteries and cause heart disease. Some saturated fat is OK. We all have to have some saturated fats and some low density lipoproteins. It is when we intake too much that problems begin to arise.
Excessive intake is when you take in something excessively... For example, if you really enjoy chocolate and happen to win a lifetime supply of it and you eat thirty pounds of it in one day, that would definitely qualify as "excessive intake."
Excessive alcohol intake, marijuana use, or using anabolic steroids may cause gynecomastia. Surgery is not recommended for men who continue to use these products.