fat

fat is one of the main components of our diet. It is an important source of energy, intensifies the taste of food and is necessary so that the body can use absorbed vitamins.

What is fat

But you have to differentiate between different fats, not every one fat does good in the body. And as with many things, the amount is crucial. Too much fat is harmful, can cause diseases and allows the body to create fat deposits, which not only show up as unpleasant hip or belly fat, but can also trigger diseases.

Fat is made up of glycerine (alcohol) and one or more fatty acids. The most common fats found in food are triglycerides; they consist of glycerine and three fatty acids. Furthermore, fats can be divided into vegetable and animal fats according to their origin, and into saturated and unsaturated fats according to their binding capacity.

The latter are very reactive and can take on important tasks in the body, while the saturated fats are only stored in fat deposits as energy reserves. Certain fatty acids cannot be produced by the body itself, but they are vital for it, which is why they are called essential fatty acids. They have to be supplied to the body because it needs them for certain metabolic processes.

Meaning & function

The most important task of fat in the body is that of the energy supplier. Fat has an extremely high energy density, which means it is very high in calories. With around 9 kcal or 37.7 kJ per gram, it provides twice as much energy as carbohydrates or proteins (proteins). When we exercise or do sports, but also when we sleep, we need energy. The body gets these from the fats and carbohydrates in energy stores.

Fat is still needed so that the body can absorb the vitamins contained in food. The vital vitamins A, D, E and K only dissolve in fat and can therefore only be absorbed by the body through fat. The vitamin A contained in carrots, for example, can only be used by the body if it is consumed with fat. Therefore, you should always prepare carrots with oil or butter, otherwise the vitamins will be lost unused.

Apart from that, fat is a flavor carrier, i.e. dishes prepared with a little fat taste more intense. In addition, fatty foods fill you up faster and the feeling of satiety lasts longer than with very low-fat foods.

Unneeded fat is stored by the body in fat deposits under the skin, which have a heat protection function. People who have no fat reserves freeze and cool down faster. But fat also protects the internal organs by cushioning them in the form of fatty tissue and protecting them from external influences.

Fat also plays an important role in the structure of the cell walls. It makes them permeable to vital substances and keeps them flexible.

Dangers, disorders, risks & diseases

As with so much is also with fat the measure is decisive. In addition to being overweight and the diseases that result from it, too much fat can also cause massive disorders in organs and metabolic processes. But the type of fat ingested also plays a role in whether it is beneficial or harmful to the body.

If the body is supplied with more fat than it can utilize and if these fats consist to a greater extent of low-reaction saturated fatty acids, then they migrate directly and unused into the fat deposits. Obesity results and with it an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, joint damage, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, gallstones, stroke and some other diseases.

Skin eczema occurs more frequently, as do erectile dysfunction. Organs can be downright fatty. The heart, liver and pancreas are particularly susceptible to this. The remodeling processes in the cells are disturbed by excessively high blood lipid levels, especially saturated fatty acids. They are stored unused in the cell membrane and make them impermeable to valuable vitamins and nutrients. It not only decreases life expectancy, but also the quality of life. A person who is too fat feels uncomfortable and immobile. This can also lead to psychological problems such as depression.