Physical Properties:
- Fats and fatty acids are soluble in organic solvents, such as petroleum ether, benzene and chloroform. They are insoluble in water. ADVERTISEMENTS:
- Saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fatty acids are liquid.
- Unsaturated fatty acids show cis-trans isomerism due to presence of double bonds.
- They are bad conductors of heat.
What are the characteristics of saturated fats?
Some specific physical characteristics of saturated fats include: Saturated fats are usually solid at room temperature. For example, butter contains high amounts of saturated fat, and it remains solid at room temperature. Saturated fats do not spoil as quickly as unsaturated fats.
What are the different types of fat?
Fats are just one of the lipid types of animal origin. Based on the characteristics of the lipids, a classification is usually made that includes two types: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated lipids are considered harmful.
What is facts on fats?
EUFIC’s review Facts on Fats provides the reader with an extensive, though easy to understand, overview of the various aspects related to the fats we consume through our diets. To make this information easier to digest, the review is divided over two parts; the first, the current article, explains the Basics of dietary fats.
What is the difference between monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat?
Monounsaturated fat has one double bond between carbon atoms, while polyunsaturated fat has two or more of these double bonds. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature, spoil relatively quickly, and usually have low melting points.
What are the characteristics of fats and oils?
Physical properties of oils and fatsThe crystallization.The melting point.The viscosity.The refractive index.The density.The solubility.The plasticity.The emulsifying capacity.
What are 5 facts about fats?
5 Facts about FatsFats are an important component in our bodies. ... Fats contain vitamins such as D,A,K and E, which are antioxidants and are part of cell membranes.Fat intake should account for 30 percent of our diet.Fats are essential for brain development in children.Not all fats are bad.
What are characteristics of fats that are more saturated?
Fats that are tightly packed with no double bonds between the fatty acids are called saturated fats. There are some exceptions, but most are solid at room temperature. Sources of saturated fat include: fatty pieces of meat such as beef and lamb.
What are the 3 classifications of fat?
They are:monounsaturated fats.polyunsaturated fats.saturated fats.trans fats.
What are the 6 functions of fat?
Functions of Fat in FoodAppearance.Emulsions.Flavor.Heat Transfer.Melting Point.Nutrition.Satiety.Shortening.More items...•
What are 10 facts about fats?
20 Fun Facts About FatFact #4: Fat cells die at the rate of 150 per second.Fact #7: Fat provides more than twice the amount of usable energy than carbohydrates or protein.Fact #8: 60 percent of the brain consists of fat. ... Fact #10: Fat cells can live for an average of 10 years!Fact #11: Muscle weighs more than fat.More items...
What are the function of fats?
Triglycerides, cholesterol and other essential fatty acids—the scientific term for fats the body can't make on its own—store energy, insulate us and protect our vital organs. They act as messengers, helping proteins do their jobs.
What is the difference between fat and saturated fat?
Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in butter, lard, ghee, fatty meats and cheese. Eating a diet high in saturated fat is associated with raised levels of non-HDL (bad) cholesterol. This is linked to an increased risk of heart and circulatory disease.
What are fats made up of?
Fats and oils A fat molecule consists of two kinds of parts: a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid tails. Glycerol is a small organic molecule with three hydroxyl (OH) groups, while a fatty acid consists of a long hydrocarbon chain attached to a carboxyl group.
What are 5 fat functions?
"Fat helps give your body energy, protects your organs, supports cell growth, keeps cholesterol and blood pressure under control, and helps your body absorb vital nutrients. When you focus too much on cutting out all fat, you can actually deprive your body of what it needs most."
What are 5 different types of fats?
Total fat includes saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and trans fat.
What are the 4 fats?
Total Fat: the sum of the 4 types of fat This article examines the 4 major types of fat: saturated, trans fats, unsaturated, and monounsaturated.
What is an interesting fact about fat?
A small amount of fat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. Fat is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body cannot make itself. Fat helps the body absorb vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. These vitamins are fat-soluble, which means they can only be absorbed with the help of fats.
What are 5 facts about proteins?
Protein Fun FactsIt's essential to all life. Protein exists in every one of the trillions of cells in the human body. ... Greek origins. ... You couldn't grow or heal without it. ... They have a short lifespan. ... We would swell up without it. ... Cheesey protein. ... Fishy business. ... It keeps us feeling full.More items...•
What are some examples of fats?
Some examples of foods that contain fats are butter, oil, nuts, meat, fish, and some dairy products.
What role does fat play in the body?
Triglycerides, cholesterol and other essential fatty acids—the scientific term for fats the body can't make on its own—store energy, insulate us and protect our vital organs. They act as messengers, helping proteins do their jobs.
Which type of fat is found in high concentrations?
1. Monounsaturated fats are found in high concentrations in: 2. Polyunsaturated fats are found in high concentrations in. Canola oil – though higher in monounsaturated fat, it’s also a good source of polyunsaturated fat. Omega-3 fats are an important type of polyunsaturated fat.
What is saturated fat?
Saturated Fats. All foods containing fat have a mix of specific types of fats. Even healthy foods like chicken and nuts have small amounts of saturated fat, though much less than the amounts found in beef, cheese, and ice cream. Saturated fat is mainly found in animal foods, but a few plant foods are also high in saturated fats, such as coconut, ...
Why are trans fats bad for you?
Trans fats are the worst type of fat for the heart, blood vessels, and rest of the body because they: Raise bad LDL and lower good HDL. Create inflammation, ( 18) – a reaction related to immunity – which has been implicated in heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
What are the benefits of unsaturated fats?
Unsaturated fats, which are liquid at room temperature, are considered beneficial fats because they can improve blood cholesterol levels, ease inflammation, stabilize heart rhythms, and play a number of other beneficial roles . Unsaturated fats are predominantly found in foods from plants, such as vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.
How much trans fat is bad for you?
Can have harmful health effects even in small amounts – for each additional 2 percent of calories from trans fat consumed daily, the risk of coronary heart disease increases by 23 percent .
Can you replace saturated fat with refined carbs?
Cutting back on saturated fat will likely have no benefit, however, if people replace saturated fat with refined carbohydrates. Eating refined carbohydrates in place of saturated fat does lower “bad” LDL cholesterol, but it also lowers the “good” HDL cholesterol and increases triglycerides.
Is saturated fat bad for you?
Though decades of dietary advice ( 13, 14) suggested saturated fat was harmful, in recent years that idea has begun to evolve. Several studies suggest that eating diets high in saturated fat do not raise the risk of heart disease, with one report analyzing the findings of 21 studies that followed 350,000 people for up to 23 years.
What Are Dietary Fats?
Zooming in on The Molecular Structure, How Are Dietary Fats built?
- Understanding the basic chemistry of fats will help to understand the role that fats play in our health and in food technology. Over 90% of dietary fats are in the form of triglycerides, which consist of a glycerol backbone with fatty acidsesterified on each of the three hydroxyl groups of the glycerol molecule. Figure 1. Structure of a triglyceride and saturated, monounsaturated and …
Summary
- Dietary fats are an important part of our diet, delivering about 20-35% of our daily energy needs. Beyond energy, they are indispensable for a number of important biological functions including growth and development. This first part of the EUFIC review Facts on Fats - the Basics, explains what dietary fats actually are, where they can be found, what is their molecular structure, and wh…
Annex 1. List of Most Common Fatty Acids
- (*) The figure before the colon indicates the number of carbon atoms the fatty acid molecule contains, and the figure after the colon indicates the total number of double bonds. The n-(omega) designation gives the position of the first double bond counting from the methyl end of the fatty acid molecule.
References
- Brouwer I, Wanders A & Katan M (2013). Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular health: research completed? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 67(5): 1-7.
- Brenna T, Salem N, Sinclair A, et al. (2009). α-Linolenic Acid Supplementation and Conversion to n-3 Long Chain PUFA in Humans.
- Commission of The European Communities (2007). White Paper On A Strategy for Europe o…
- Brouwer I, Wanders A & Katan M (2013). Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular health: research completed? European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 67(5): 1-7.
- Brenna T, Salem N, Sinclair A, et al. (2009). α-Linolenic Acid Supplementation and Conversion to n-3 Long Chain PUFA in Humans.
- Commission of The European Communities (2007). White Paper On A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues. Brussels, Belgium.
- Hayes K & the Expert Panel (2010). Fatty acid expert roundtable: key statements about fatty acids. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 29(Suppl 3): S285-S288.
Unsaturated Fats
Saturated Fats
- All foods containing fat have a mix of specific types of fats. Even healthy foods like chicken and nuts have small amounts of saturated fat, though much less than the amounts found in beef, cheese, and ice cream. Saturated fat is mainly found in animal foods, but a few plant foods are also high in saturated fats, such as coconut, coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil. 1. The Die…
Trans Fats
- Trans fatty acids, more commonly called trans fats, are made by heating liquid vegetable oils in the presence of hydrogen gas and a catalyst, a process called hydrogenation. 1. Partially hydrogenating vegetable oils makes them more stable and less likely to become rancid. This process also converts the oil into a solid, which makes them function as margarine or shortenin…
References
- 7. Mozaffarian, D., R. Micha, and S. Wallace, Effects on coronary heart disease of increasing polyunsaturated fat in place of saturated fat: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS Med, 2010. 7(3): p. e1000252. 8. Mensink, R.P., et al., Effects of dietary fatty acids and carbohydrates on the ratio of serum total to HDL cholesterol and on se…
Terms of Use
- The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The N…