What Is Stearic Acid (18:0) & What Foods Can I Find It In?
Stearic acid, also known as octadecanoic acid, is a crucial saturated long-chain fatty acid derived from fats and oils.
Considered essential for our well-being, stearic acid has demonstrated positive health benefits.
Commercially, stearic acid is often a blend of stearic and palmitic acids.
However, opting for natural or purified stearic acid is preferable from a health perspective.
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Essential Role of Stearic Acid
Stearic acid, classified as an essential fatty acid, is a nutrient vital to our body, necessitating dietary intake.
It forms a crucial component of the lipids in every cell's plasma membrane.
Ubiquitous Presence of Stearic Acid
As a saturated long-chain fatty acid, stearic acid is among the most prevalent fatty acids.
It can be found in vegetable fats like coconut oil, palm oil, and safflower oil, as well as in animal fats like beef, pork, and milk. (source ◳)
Abundance in Animal Fat
Animal fats boast a higher abundance of stearic acid, reaching up to 30%, in contrast to vegetable fats that typically contain 5% or less.
Cocoa butter and shea butter, for instance, contain stearic acid in the range of 28–45%. (source ◳)
Recommendation: Enriching Foods with Stearic Acid
Researchers advocate for the food industry to enrich products with stearic acid instead of palmitic acid and trans fatty acid due to its non-toxic and biocompatible nature within the human body. (source ◳)
Foods You Can Find Stearic Acid (18:0) In
You find Stearic Acid (18:0) mostly in fats and oils, beef, sweets, lamb, veal, and game products.
Examples of food sources include
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