Fats detailed definition and sources list

Fats detailed definition and sources list

In this article we will discuss fats definition, benefits of fats, side effects of fats, basic varieties of fats and fats sources list.

Benefits of Fats

Fats are essential for proper health and right functioning of the body. They are a source of energy, essential fats and enhance the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. 

Fats additionally supply foods a specific texture, look and flavour.

This article summarises the types of fats we eat, the foods in which they are found, their effect on our health, and the recommended consumption levels. They belong to a bigger institution known as lipids that still consists of waxes, sterols and fats soluble vitamins.

Side Effect of Fats

An excessive amount of fats and the Harmful kind of fats can also have negative effect on our health. Too much of fats specially saturated kind of Fats can boost your cholesterol which disturb your blood flow by reaching to blood vessels simply it increase your LDL (low-density lipoprotein) chalestrol which increases risk for your heart diseases, strokes etc

Basic Varieties of Fats

Fats are triglycerides made up of a combination of different building blocks; glycerol and fatty acids.

Depending on their structure, fats are classified as saturated fats and unsaturated fats. Structure of a triglyceride and saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Fats are found in many food types and all foods normally suppply various both saturated and unsaturated fats.

The composition of fat in a specific food affects the physical and practical characteristics and has an effect on health.

Foods that comprise a excessive share of saturated fats, for example butter or lard, are strong at room temperature and are commonly of animal origin.

Foods that contain a high proportion of unsaturated fats, like vegetable oil and fish oil containing omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats respectively are usually liquid at room temperature.

However, a few vegetable oils, which include palm or coconut oil, are pretty excessive in saturated fats and strong at room temperature.

Fats, benefits of fats, sources of fats, side effects of fats
Fats detailed definition and sources list

Sources of Fats

The table underneath indicates examples of meals which can be excessive in fats, labeled with the aid of using the maximum generic kind of fats they contain.

  • High-fat cuts of red meat (beef, lamb)
  • Dairy products (such as butter, cheese, ice cream, milk and cream)
  • Palm oil
  • Coconut oil 
  • Lard it's oil
  • Rapeseed oil
  • Olives and it's oil
  • Sunflower seeds and it's oil
  • Sesame seeds and it's oil
  • Avocados and it's oil
  • Almonds and it's oil
  • Peanuts and it's oil
  • Hazelnuts and it's oil
  • Oily fish (like salmon, mackerel, herring, trout), 
  • rapeseed oil, 
  • soft fat spreads and it's oil
  • walnuts and it's oil
  • soybeans and it's oil
  • flaxseeds (linseeds) and it's oil
  • wheat germ and it's oil
  • corn and it's oil


Vegetable oils that have undergone a partial hydrogenation process and are now present in products such as baked goods. Naturally found in milk, red meat or beef and lamb.

Eating sufficient amounts of the right types of fats is important for a number of reasons.

Dietary fats are a major source of energy for our bodies and are structural components of our body cells.

The fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K can not be absorbed through the body with out the help of fats. omega-3 and omega-6 are essential as the body cannot produce them and therefore need to be obtained through diet.

They are required for important processes along with brain, eye and heart function, growth and development.

Adults have to get a endorsed 20-35% of their energy consumption from fats.

That means that a reasonably energetic woman, with a each day energy consumption of 2,000 kcal, have to consume among forty four g and seventy eight g of fats per day.

For guys with a each day energy consumption of 2,500 kcal, they have to consume among fifty five g and ninety seven g of fats in keeping with day.

It is commonly advocated that much less than 10% of overall energy consumption have to come from saturated fats, 22 g for women and 28 g for men.

The rest have to come from the unsaturated fats, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated.

It is recommended that trans fats should be eaten as little as possible, and make up no more than 1% of total energy intake. This is equal to less than 2 g for women and less than 3 g for men.

Weight gain is not related to one single nutrient, but is based on the total daily energy intake and the balance between energy intake and energy use.

Eating more calories than the body needs leads to the excess calories being stored as body fat regardless of the source of these calories (fat, protein or carbohydrate).It is total energy stability that counts.

However, fats are high in energy: 1 gram of fat contains 9 kcal – more than twice the calories of 1 gram of carbohydrate or protein (4 kcal/g each).

Therefore, foods that comprise a lot of fats offer pretty extra energy when compared to low fats foods and we should understand now no longer to overconsume these foods.

Side effects of excess weight and  eating too much fat:

Having obesity or excess weight puts us at an increased risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancers.

Generally, in addition to excessive calories, a high intake of fat can lead to a higher level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

Recent studies also show that higher levels of saturated fat intake may not be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Still, cutting down on saturated fats and replacing them with unsaturated fats, especially polyunsaturated has been shown to potentially further reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve brain function and vision.

Unsaturated fat are commonly much less solid with more sensitivity to heat, light and air. For simple domestic usage like shallow frying, baking, oils and spreads rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are both suitable. In case of repeated use such as deep frying, it is advised to use oils with mainly monounsaturated oils, such as refined olive or peanut oil, as they are more stable and are safer to re-use than polyunsaturated oils such as corn or soybean oil.


Post a Comment

0 Comments