Types of Fats and How They Work
Fats and oils are called lipids. Lipid molecules have a polar head that is hydrophilic (water-loving) and a nonpolar fatty acid chain that is hydrophobic (water-fearing). When water is present, lipid molecules cluster together to exclude the water from between them. In this way, water-soluble materials in our body (like blood and digestive juices) can be separated from the lipid (and fat) molecules with little or no mixing.
Soap is a classic example of a micelle: it has a hydrophilic head that likes to mix with water and a hydrophobic tail that does not like mixing with water. When you put soap in water, it forms little aggregates so the hydrophilic head stays out of the water and the hydrophobic tail is in contact with the nonpolar solvent (which in this case is oil).
When a lipid is in water, it can spontaneously form a micelle. This process is called micellization and the parts of the lipid that make up the micelle are called micelles. In this way, lipids remain hydrophobic on the inside of the micelle and hydrophilic on the outside where they interact with water.
Categories of Lipids:
Fats are triglycerides, composed of one molecule glycerol and three fatty acid molecules bonded head to tail. Fats are typically solid at room temperature, while oils are liquid. When fats are being broken down in the body or when their breakdown products are being used for energy, they are hydrolyzed to glycerol and fatty acids.
Trace amounts of the other components of the original fat molecule may be found in blood, but they are not likely to be significant sources of dietary intake. Glycerol is a carbohydrate with 3 carbons and alcohol functional groups. It is potentially metabolizable for energy. It can also bind to other molecules, most notably Pi, resulting in lowered blood sugar levels.
Fatty acids are chains of carbons with one carboxyl group (COOH) on the end of each carbon. They can be either saturated or unsaturated, depending on whether or not there are any “missing” hydrogen atoms at the double bonds between the carbons.
If there are no “missing” hydrogens, then the fatty acid is said to be saturated with hydrogen. If there are one or more missing hydrogens at a carbon-carbon double bond, then it is unsaturated with hydrogen.
Unsaturated fats have kinks in their chain so they don’t pack together as tightly as saturated fats. Unsaturated fats can stack on top of each other, forming a membrane. Saturated fats are more likely to form a sphere with hydrophobic tails in contact with one another and hydrophilic heads pointing outwards where they interact with water.
Types of fats in the body:
fact is that the fat in our body has different types. Understanding what they are can help to maintain health. Here’s a list of the most common fats in the human body:
The adipose tissue is responsible for storing energy and it is found mainly in the thighs, buttocks, stomach, upper arm, and lower part of the back.
Adipose tissue functions as insulation and padding.
The fat found in the breast is called mammary gland fat. It is a special type of body fat because it serves for lactation, although after weaning its function is decorative.
Adipose around internal organs helps to maintain their shape and serves as a thermal insulator against cold.
Bone marrow fat is present in the center of bones. It’s a special type of fat because it produces white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is found mainly in infants and helps to generate body heat through shivering or burning fatty acids. BAT also produces some heat by non-shivering thermogenesis (the release of energy in the form of heat).
White fat can be found under the skin and around organs. It is involved in energy storage, insulation, cushioning, and protection.
importance of fats in our body:
all types of fat are necessary for the body to function properly. The different types of fats have different functions, but they all provide insulation and cushioning, absorb shock, regulate temperature, protect organs, produce essential hormones and vitamins, maintain healthy cells, etc.
Both harmful and helpful effects on the body:
a balanced diet is a key to good health, and fat is an important part of that diet. healthy fats can be found in olive oil, grass-fed meats, avocados, certain nuts like almonds and macadamia nuts (in moderation), flax seeds (ground or oil), etc. Sometimes animal products contain unhealthy fats. The American Heart Association says that you should avoid foods with high amounts of trans fat.
Trans fat is found mainly in processed foods, fried foods, desserts, margarine, etc. They are often found in combination with saturated fats and both substances raise the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol), which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.
These harmful fats in the diet should be replaced with unsaturated fats in a healthy balance in order to maintain a proper level of cholesterol.
which fat is beneficial for health?
All types of healthy body fat have their own important role. Fat cells, especially white ones, are constantly being eliminated from the body through special cells called macrophages that break down and digest fat and cholesterol deposits.
Fat plays a vital role in the functioning of the heart and brain, where most of the fatty acids in our body are found. Saturated fats can be found mainly in animal products like meat and dairy (cheese, eggs), while unsaturated fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are mainly plant-based and found in nuts, seeds, olives, soybean oil, etc.
sources of fats:
saturated fats are mainly found in animal products, while unsaturated fats are mainly plant-based.
Macadamia nuts contain more monounsaturated fat than any other nut. Brazil nuts, macadamias, almonds, cashews, and pecans are all good sources of monounsaturated fatty acids.
Unsaturated fats are the most beneficial for health and include monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, grapeseed oil.