The word "fats" we used to hear every day. But few people think about what fats are. In fact, they are present in the diet of every person and are needed in order to ensure the vital activity of the body. However, not all fats are he althy.
On the benefits of fats
Fats are organic substances, the main purpose of which is to provide energy to the whole organism. It is for this reason that people with a thick layer of subcutaneous fat tolerate hunger more easily and, no matter how strange it may sound, are less cold. Fat does not conduct heat well, and therefore retains it in the body. In addition, adipose tissues protect organs from injury and mechanical damage, they seem to “wrap” them and protect them. The opinion that eating fats is harmful is erroneous, since the human body needs them, but in moderation. Their deficiency can lead to a malfunction of the body. Together with fat, we get unsaturated fatty acids, part of the fat-soluble vitamins and phosphatides.
On the dangers of fatty foods
Excess fat is also harmful - if a person eats fatty foods, they are deposited in the liver,under the skin and can provoke a lot of serious diseases. It is also worth remembering that fat tends to accumulate in the blood. Blood obesity reduces the amount of protein in it, and it is the main carrier of fatty molecules. All this leads to erythrocytes sticking together, the blood thickens, blood clots appear in the vessels. As a result, the nutrition of tissues and organs is disrupted, and the risk of stroke increases dramatically.
Qualitative composition of fats
When looking for an answer to the question "what are fats?" it is necessary to take into account not only its benefits and harm to the body, but also its qualitative composition. From a chemical point of view, they are divided into two groups - saturated and unsaturated. What are saturated fats? These are fats with a closed structure, that is, they are not able to attach other atoms to themselves. And unsaturated ones, on the contrary, contain open atoms in their chain, which can attach another atom to themselves. This is the benefit of unsaturated fats - they can attach to themselves other elements necessary for the body to work, and are of greater value. Saturated fats, on the other hand, cannot be "spent" by the body, so they accumulate.
Cholesterol - friend or foe?
Another feature of saturated fats is the presence of cholesterol in their composition. For many, this word is associated with excess weight, blood vessels and disruption of the heart. However, there is also “useful” cholesterol, which is necessary for life support and is produced by our body. The question arises of what are fats and where does it come from?cholesterol? The fact is that cholesterol is involved in the creation of hormones such as estrogen, cortisol and testosterone. In addition, he takes part in reactions taking place at the intracellular level. The body receives cholesterol in two ways: it produces it itself in the liver and with fats that a person consumes. Therefore, fats and cholesterol interact closely.
About trans fats
Because we're talking about fats, it's important to know what trans fats are and how they differ from regular fats. Trans fat is formed by passing hydrogen bubbles through an ordinary oil, such as vegetable oil. This is done in order to increase its shelf life (and hence the products that are made from it) and to give it a stable state. The most striking example is regular margarine. Unfortunately, trans fats are dangerous to he alth. Once in the human body, they not only disrupt metabolic processes, but also adversely affect the metabolic processes of fats, which in turn disrupts the process of insulin metabolism. The result is obesity. The negative impact of trans fats on men has been scientifically proven - the level of testosterone in their blood drops sharply. This leads to obesity according to the "female" type, fat is deposited on the hips, buttocks and chest. In addition, erectile function is noticeably reduced, the muscles of the body sag and lose their mass. Therefore, to avoid all possible negative consequences, it is important to know what trans fats and saturated fats are.
Trans fats are not includedonly in margarine, they can be found in potato chips, cookies and other "bought" pastries, frozen pizza and many other products. At the same time, the share of such fat can reach about 50%, since most of them are made using hydrogenated fats. For example, one serving of french fries has about 14 grams of trans fat, a small bag of chips has 3 grams, a serving of fried chicken has 7 grams, and a serving of cereal has 2 grams. Eating more than 4 grams of trans fat per day is enough to harm your he alth.
Fats, proteins and carbohydrates - one team
What are fats, proteins and carbohydrates? This is one "team" of substances that, from an energy point of view, can completely become a substitute for each other. However, if the body makes up for the lack of carbohydrates with proteins and fats, it will have to spend additional energy to absorb them. But it is worth remembering that proteins are a source of essential amino acids, and fat is a source of essential fatty acids, so there is no replacement for them in this regard. The body has the hardest time with a lack of proteins.
Protein is the building block of the body. It consists of a number of amino acids, 9 of which come only with food and are not synthesized in the body. Animal foods contain more proteins than plant foods, and the digestibility of such proteins is 90%, while proteins of plant origin are only 65% digestible.
What are fats? This is the energy reserve of the body. And if they arisedeficiency, proteins begin to actively break down - a hormonal failure occurs in the body, the skin fades, the strength of blood vessels decreases, and problems with digestion arise.
Carbohydrates are the best source of energy for the brain, while the muscles of the body get energy by converting fats. Conventionally, carbohydrates are divided into simple and complex. The most useful are complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides. Their deficiency can cause a decrease in protein content, and their excess also leads to overweight. Therefore, it is important to find a middle ground.
