Not All Saturated Fat Is Equal: One Fuels Cancer, Others Don’t
Physionic
13 oct 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Recognize limitations of findings for ketogenic diets
The experiments were conducted with standard diets, so the results do not directly inform on the effects of these fats within a ketogenic state.
Reevaluate stearic acid's role in immune function and cancer response
The saturated fat stearic acid, not the more commonly maligned palmitic acid, was found to paralyze immune cells and reduce their ability to kill cancer cells.
Avoid butter to prevent tumor growth acceleration
In a mouse study, a diet heavy in butter accelerated tumor growth, whereas a palm oil diet with the same calories and nutrient composition did not.
Reduce butter intake to prevent immune paralysis and cancer growth
A butter-rich diet caused immune cells to become overburdened with fat droplets, leading to a state of 'immune paralysis' that allows cancer to grow freely.
Understand stearic acid's conversion to mitigate immune system effects
The negative effects of stearic acid may not be direct, but rather from its conversion into a molecule called stearoyl-carnitine, which actually yields the negative effects on the immune system.
Limit butter consumption to reduce cancer risk
A large human study found an association between greater butter consumption and increased cancer mortality, which aligns with the experimental animal data.
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