Fat is the name given to a broad category of substances we get from our food or make in our bodies. It is an essential nutrient, which contributes approximately 30-45% of food energy in western diets.
In technical they are referred to as lipids. Fat along with proteins and carbohydrates, one of the three nutrients are used as energy sources by the body.
Energy is one of the principal nutritional requirements of man and fat is a principal source of the energy. Each grams of fat consumed supplies the body with 9 calories worth of energy.
Total fat: the sum of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Cholesterol is from another lipid family called sterols.
Intake of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help reduce blood cholesterol when substituted for saturated fats in the diet.
In chemistry, a compound formed from chemicals called fatty acids. These fats are greasy, solid materials found in animal tissues and in some plants.
For most part, human did not require fat sources in their diets because the body can synthesize most of the fatty acids it needs from other constituents, including carbohydrate and protein.
The brain needs saturated fats, polyunsaturated fat, cholesterol, and a number of other fats. Fats are also a component of cell membranes, vitamin D and sex hormones.
Some types of fats give cell membranes flexibility and help regulate the transfer of nutrients into and out of cells, while others serve as precursors to vitamin D and sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.
Most saturated fats come from animal products. Unsaturated fats are prominent in both animal and vegetable foods.
The importance of dietary fat is underscored by the fat that 35% of the weight gain of an infant in early is accounted for by fat. Most of the dietary fat is in the form of triglyceride formed by the three fatty acids esterified to a glycerol backbone.
The role of fat in the diet is both physiological and psychological. In its psychological aspect, it is important to appearance and taste of foods.
The importance of fats in human body
