Is it true that dietary saturated fat should be avoided? Is it really a leading cause of heart disease? The data says nope and nope. Saturated fat is an essential nutrient and there is little evidence that it is harmful when consumed in moderation as part of a balnced diet. Trans fats and hyrdogenated fats, on the other hand, are a different matter. Want to know more? Check out Georg Hafner PhD’s review of the evidence.