Question

Topic 1: Dietary fat has been vilified. Is this a correct characterization of this macronutrient? Is all fat bad?

Answer 1

Not all fats are bad.

Fats are Macronutrient essential for us , as they provide maximum energy, 9kcal/g of fats.

Two types of Fat:

1 Saturated

2 Unsaturated

Saturated Fats :

when vegetable oils are hydrogenated , that’s saturated with hydrogen are called Saturated fatty acids. Example of these are Ghee, butter.

Saturated fats are bad as they raise blood cholesterol levels.

Unsaturated fats:

These fatty acids are not saturated with hydrogen, so are capable of absorbing extra hydrogen.They are further divided in to MonoUnsaturated fatty acid & Polyunsaturated fatty acid.

Dietary Sources of fat are :

1- Animal fats

2- Vegetable fats

Animal fats are poor in essential fatty acids but are good sourced of Vitamin A & D

Vegetable fats - are mustard oil, sesame oil etc

Thus Fats are not all bad as they provide us :

Energy, carriers of fat soluble Vitamin A,D,E&K, give support to internal organs, tasty, act as insulator, spare the protein from being used as energy .

Fats especially Vegetable fats are rich sources of Essential Fatty Acids, which are needed for growth.

Diet rich in Essential Fatty Acids reduces the Serum Cholesterol & LDL.

Cholestrol , a type of fat is a precursor of Steroid hormone, a component of Nervous system & a normal constituent of Bile.