How is saturated fat defined?

Saturated fat is defined as a type of fat that is solid at room temperature and is primarily found in animal-based foods. This includes items such as meat, butter, dairy products, and some tropical oils like coconut and palm oil. The structure of saturated fats contains no double bonds between carbon atoms. Instead, they are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms, which contributes to their solid state at room temperature.

The presence of saturated fats in animal-based foods is significant since these fats can influence cholesterol levels and overall heart health. This characteristic makes option C the accurate definition, as it highlights the typical source of saturated fats that many people consume.

In contrast, other answer choices describe types of fats or conditions that do not align with the definition of saturated fats. For example, the notion of saturated fats being found mainly in plant-based foods is inaccurate, as those foods typically contain unsaturated fats instead. Similarly, the description of fats that are liquid at room temperature refers to unsaturated fats, not saturated. Additionally, while it is often advised to limit saturated fat intake for health reasons, simply labeling it as unhealthy without context does not provide a comprehensive or accurate definition.