Optimum Performance
Know Your Fats
Saturated Fatty Acids
Acetic acid Carbons: 2 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Vinegar
Butyric Carbons: 4 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Butter
Caproic Carbons: 6 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Butterfat
Caprylic Carbons: 8 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Coconut oil
Capric Acid Carbons: 10 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Palm oil
Lauric Acid Carbons: 12 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Coconut oil
Myristic Carbons: 14 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Nutmeg oil
Palmitic Carbons: 16 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Animal & vegetable oil
Stearic Carbons: 18 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Animal & vegetable oil
Arachidic Carbons: 20 Double bonds: 0 Common source: Peanut oil
Acetic Acid is a synthetic carboxylic acid with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Although its mechanism of action is not fully known, undissociated acetic acid may enhance lipid solubility allowing increased fatty acid accumulation on the cell membrane or in other cell wall structures. Acetic acid, as a weak acid, can inhibit carbohydrate metabolism resulting in subsequent death of the organism.
Butyric acid, also known under the systematic name butanoic acid, abbreviated BTA,is a carboxylic acid with the structural formula CH3CH2CH2-COOH. Salts and esters of butyric acid are known as butyrates or butanoates.
Butyric acid is found in milk, especially goat, sheep and buffalo milk, butter and parmesan cheese
Caproic acid (6 carbon atoms) can be found as a glycerol ester in animal fats like those present in butter, cheddar and other cheeses, aswell as in coconut oil. Other names for Caproic acid are n-caproic acid, capronic acid, hexoic acid, n-hexanoic acid, butylacetic acid, plentiformic acid, n-hexylic acid aci and, n-hexoic acid.
Caprylic acid is the common name for the eight-carbon saturated fatty acid known by the systematic name octanoic acid. Its compounds are found naturally in the milk of various mammals, and as a minor constituent of coconut oil and palm kernel oil. Caprylic acid is an antimicrobial pesticide used as a food contact surface sanitizer in commercial food handling establishments on dairy equipment, food processing equipment, breweries, wineries, and beverage processing plants. It is also used as disinfectant in health care facilities, schools/colleges, animal care/veterinary facilities, industrial facilities, office buildings, recreational facilities, retail and wholesale establishments, livestock premises, restaurants, and hotels/motels. In addition, caprylic acid is used as an algaecide, bactericide, and fungicide in nurseries, greenhouses, garden centers, and interiorscapes on ornamentals. Products containing caprylic acid are formulated as soluble concentrate/liquids and ready-to-use liquids.
Capric Acid is a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with a 10-carbon backbone. Capric acid is found naturally in the coconut and palm kernel oils as well as the milk of various mammals.
Lauric acid, as a component of triglycerides, comprises about half of the fatty acid content in coconut milk, coconut oil, laurel oil, and palm kernel oil (not to be confused with palm oil) Otherwise, it is relatively uncommon. It is also found in human breast milk (6.2% of total fat), cow's milk (2.9%), and goat's milk (3.1%).
Myristic acid, also called tetradecanoic acid, is a common saturated fatty acid with the molecular formula CH3(CH2)12COOH. A myristate is a salt or ester of myristic acid. Myristic acid is named after the nutmeg Myristica fragrans. Nutmeg butter has 75% trimyristin, the triglyceride of myristic acid. Besides nutmeg, myristic acid is also found in palm kernel oil, coconut oil, butter fat and is a minor component of many other animal fats.[9] It is also found in spermaceti, the crystallized fraction of oil from the sperm whale. It is also found in the rhizomes of the Iris, including Orris root.
Palmitic acid is the most common fatty acid (saturated) found in animals, plants and microorganisms.[9]Its chemical formula is CH3(CH2)14COOH. As its name indicates, it is a major component of the oil from palm trees (palm oil), but can also be found in meats, cheeses, butter, and dairy products. Palmitate is a term for the saltsand esters of palmitic acid.
Stearic acid is a saturated fatty acidwith an 18-carbon chain. It is a waxy solid and its chemical formula is C17H35CO2H. Its name comes from the Greek word στέαρ "stéar", which means tallow. The salts and esters of stearic acid are called stearates. As its ester, stearic acid is one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature following palmitic acid.The triglyceride derived from three molecules of stearic acid is called stearin.
Stearic acid is mainly used in the production of detergents, soaps, and cosmetics such as shampoos and shaving cream products. Soaps are not made directly from stearic acid, but indirectly by saponification of triglycerides consisting of stearic acid esters. Esters of stearic acid with ethylene glycol, glycol stearate, and glycol distearate are used to produce a pearly effect in shampoos, soaps, and other cosmetic products.
Arachidic acid, also known as eicosanoic acid, is a saturated fatty acid with a 20-carbon chain. It is as a minor constituent of cupuaçu butter, peanut oil, corn oil, and cocoa butter.