Nutrition

Macro-nutrients: Lipids

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LIPIDS

What are they?

Lipids are big molecules that can be divided into fatty acids, triglycerides and oils.

Examples:

Fatty Acids are found mainly in the vegetable oils, animal fat and fish oil (omega 3), nuts and seeds. They are divided in saturated fat (animal fats and dairy products), monosaturated fatty acid (olive oils, peanut oil and butter, nuts, avocado, sesame oil), transfats (all the fat in processed foods), omega 6 (açaí, flaxseed oil, hemp, evening primrose, pistachios and grapeseed oil) and omega 3 (mainly fish oils).

Triglyceride a molecule of glycerol on which three fatty acids are attached and this is the way fatty acids are transported along the body. Excess energy (ATP) is converted into triglyceride and therefore triglycerides provide energy.

Oil a condensed liquid formulation of the fat portions in the food. 

 

How do your body process these?

Fat is necessary in the human body to give energy (ATP) as it acts as a storage system inside the cells. It is also elementary for the formation of the membrane of all the cells in our body, made out of phospholipids. It is also essential in the mylenisation of the nervous system. It helps the absorption of the lipo-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, K…).

Conclusion

Fat (lipids) doesn’t make you fat. On the contrary, fat is an essential energy source to our cells, the very essence of our human body and without it we deprive our cells of essential functions.

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